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LIBRA.RY 


Theological   Seminary, 

DmMr:F-TnN  N.J.     •_, 
BV  4811  .H384  1845 

,  Hawker,  Robert,  1753-1827 
The  poor  man's  morning 
portion 


Book, . 


#      • 


THE    POOR   MAN'S 


MORIIIG    PORTION; 


A  SELECTION  OE  A  VERSE  OF  SCRIPTURE, 

WITH  SHORT  OBSERVATIONS, 

FOR   EVERY   DAY   IN   THE   YEAR; 

INTENDED  FOR  THE  USE  OP  THE  POOR  IN  SPIRIT, 

"who  are  rich  in  faith  and  heirs  of  the  kingdom." 


BY  ROBERT  HAWKER,  D.  D. 

LATE   VICAR   OF   CHARLES,   PLYMOUTH. 


NEW  YORK: 

ROBERT  CARTER,  58  CANAL  STREET, 

AND  PITTSBURG,  58   MARKET  STREET. 


1845. 


PREFACE. 


The  title  page  of  this  humble  work,  sufficiently  explains  itself.  It  is 
designed  as  a  means,  in  the  divine  hand,  to  promote  the  Redeemer's 
glory,  and  his  people's  happiness.  It  hath  often  struck  me,  that  such  a 
method,  under  the  blessing  of  the  Lord,  might  prove  eminently  useful. 
By  publishing  in  this  cheap  way,  some  sweet  portion  of  Scripture,  for 
every  day  in  the  year,  it  might  come  within  the  reach  of  all  pockets,  be 
within  the  reach  of  ail  hands,  and  bid  fair  to  be  read,  when  larger  books 
are  laid  aside  and  forgotten. 

It  was,  indeed,  with  the  same  view,  that  some  few  years  since  I  sent 
forth  a  Diary  of  this  kind.  But,  in  that  work,  the  selection  was  confined 
wholly  to  the  Promises.  Experience  hath  since  shown,  that  reference 
may  be  occasionally  had,  with  great  advantage,  to  other  parts  of  the 
word  of  God.  In  this  therefore,  I  have  enlarged  the  plan.  And  be- 
sides making  extracts  from  the  whole  Scripture,  I  have  ventured  to  add, 
under  each  passage,  such  thoughts  as  psissed  over  my  own  mind  in  the 
perusal,  hoping  that  the  Lord  might  render  them  profitable  to  others. 

It  will  be  scarcely  necessary  to  go  over  the  same  ground,  by  way  of 
preface,  as  was  then  done.  But  it  cannot  be  too  often  said,  by  way  of 
reminding  the  believer,  that  the  promises  of  God  in  Christ,  are  evidently 
meant,  by  the  gracious  Giver  of  them,  for  the  daily  comfort  of  his  people. 
And  what  is  said  of  the  Promises,  may  be  equally  applied  to  the  whole 
tenor  of  covenant  love,  which  runs  through  the  Bible.  Indeed,  if  the 
truly  awakened  soul  did  but  consider  the  word  of  God  in  this  point  of 
view,  and  make  use  of  it,  upon  every  occasion,  as  his  own  circumstances 
are  found  to  require,  it  could  not  fail  of  opening  to  his  mind  a  perpetual 
source  of  joy  and  consolation  all  the  day. 

For  what  are  the  promises,  but  so  many  bonds  and  engagements  of  a 
Covenant  God  in  Christ?  In  them,  the  Lord  hath  pledged  himself  to 
his  people,  as  they  stand  related  to  Christ ;  and  by  the  fulfilment  of  them, 
they  prove  his  faithfulness.  So  that  strictly  and  properly  ^speaking, 
God's  promises  are  our  Charter :  His  word  our  security :  His  Verily  and 
Amen,  the  breeists  of  consolation  from  whence  God's  Uttle  ones  are 
nourished.     And  if  the  Lord's  people  would  seek  from  the  Holy  Ghost, 


iv  ^  PREFACE. 

the  testimony  he  gives  in  them,  concerning  Jesus ;  and  from  general 
promises,  make  application  of  them  to  their  own  particular  state  and 
circumstances,  as  they  may  require ;  they  would  find  upon  numberless 
occasions  that  the  Lord  is  speaking  in  them  and  hy  them,  to  the  souls 
of  his  people,  and  in  the  sweetest  and  most  endearing  language.  "  I 
would  rather  have  God's  Amen,  and  his  Yea,  and  Verily,  (said  a  tried 
soul  of  old,)  than  the  promise  or  oath  of  all  the  men  upon  earth."  And 
so  would  every  believer,  when  from  long  experience  of  God's  fulfilment 
of  his  word  and  promises,  he  could  set  to  his  seal  that  God  is  true.  But, 
if  we  never  make  use  of  God's  promises  ;  never  exercise  faith  upon  them ; 
never  bring  them  before  the  throne  for  payment ;  nor  make  memoran- 
dums, when  they  are  paid ;  how  shall  we  know  their  value,  or  God's 
love  and  faithfulness  in  their  accomplishment  ? 

Convinced  of  the  importance  of  the  thing  itself,  and  with  a  view  to 
direct  the  minds  of  God's  people  to  the  daily  exercise  of  this  grace  of 
faith  upon  the  word  and  promises  of  our  Covenant  God  in  Christ,  I  have 
here  gathered  out  of  the  holy  treasury,  some  sweet  portion  for  gracious 
souls  to  feed  on,  from  day  to  day.  And  so  fully  persuaded  am  I,  of  the 
preciousness  of  this  employment,  that  I  am  confident  to  say,  if  the  peo- 
ple of  God  would  make  it  their  uniform  custom,  morning  by  morning, 
with  the  first  return  of  day,  and,  if  possible,  before  the  world  hath  power 
to  break  in  upon  the  mind,  thus  to  have  recourse  to  God's  word,  and  (as 
David  said  he  did)  to  hearken  what  the  Lord  God  would  say  concern- 
ing him;  they  would  find,  and  perhaps  frequently,  before  night,  sufficient 
cause  to  bless  God  for  his  faithfulness  in  the  accomplishment.  Nay, 
sometimes  indeed,  they  would  discover  the  word  to  be  so  immediate  and 
direct  to  the  present  moment,  as  if  the  Lord  had  left,  for  a  while,  the 
whole  world,  to  draw  nigh  to  them,  in  those  visits  of  his  love.  Like  the 
Patriarch  at  Bethel,  they  would  be  constrained  to  say.  Surely  the  Lord 
is  in  this  place,  or  in  this  word,  and  I  knew  it  not ! 

It  was  thus  holy  men  of  old  walked  with  God.  They  communed 
with  the  Lord,  and  the  Lord  with  them,  through  the  medium  of  his  word- 
They  made  known  their  wants,  and  the  Lord  made  known  his  grace. 
Prayers  went  up,  and  answers  came  down  ;  and  He  made  all  his  good- 
ness to  pass  before  them.  In  a  more  especial  manner,  they  considered 
all  the  promises  as  their  own.  And  they  accepted  of  them,  as  given  of 
the  Lord  with  this  express  design,  as  if  the  Lord  pledged  himself  by  them 
to  his  people,  that  they  might  bring  them  before  the  mercy-seat,  when- 
ever they  needed,  and  plead  for  payment.  Hence  they  kept  house, 
feasted,  and  lived  joyfully  upon  them,  when  they  had  nothing  else  to 
live  upon.  And  from  this  cause  it  was,  that  after  a  succession  of  many 
generations  from  father  to  son,  they  could,  and  did,  appeal,  to  the  unin- 


PREFACE.  V 

terrupted  experience  of  every  preceding  history,  and  left  it  upon  record 
for  the  assurance  and  comfort  of  all  that  should  come  after,  that  not  one 
thing  had  failed  of  all  the  good  things  which  the  Lord  had  promised^ 
but  all  was  come  to  pass  as  it  is  this  day. 

I  cannot  therefore  but  earnestly  recommend  to  the  gracious  souls,  for 
whom  this  little  work  is  intended,  similar  conduct,  that  we  may  be  the 
patient /oZZowers  of  them  who  now  through  faith  and  patience  inherit 
the  promises.  And  a  method  so  short,  s6  easy,  and  so  practicable,  as  is 
here  set  forth,  and  which  the  most  busy  life,  even  among  the  labouring 
poor  of  our  people,  cannot  find  much  difficulty  in  performing,  will  I 
trust  be  abundantly  blessed  of  our  gracious  God.  The  labourer,  who  is 
straitened  in  time,  and  obliged  sometimes  to  hasten  to  his  work,  without 
falling  upon  his  knees  in  family  prayer,  may  yet,  even  while  putting  on 
his  clothes,  look  at  the  Morning  Portion  ;  and  if  unable  to  run  through 
the  observations,  which  follow  the  Scripture,  may  yet  take  with  him 
the  Scripture  itself,  and  gather  subject  from  it,  under  divine  teaching, 
for  prayer  and  praise,  as  he  hastens  on.  And  if  this  plan  be  constantly 
and  invariably  followed  up,  without  the  omission  of  a  single  morning, 
I  venture  to  believe  his  diligence  will  be  abundantly  recompensed,  upon 
numberless  occasions,  through  life. 

There  is  one  advantage  more,  from  the  use  of  this  work,  which  I  de- 
tain the  Reader,  to  mention,  and  which  will  be,  I  conceive,  of  no  small 
importance,  in  making  it  blessed,  if  so  be  the  Lord  should  dispose  the 
minds  of  many  gracious  souls  to  the  daily  use  of  it  I  mean,  the  Cmn- 
munion  of  Saints.  This  privilege  of  God's  people,  is  much  spoken  of; 
but  I  rather  fear  not  so  much  attended  to,  or  regarded,  as  it  ought  And 
yet,  next  to  the  rapture  arising  from  communion  with  our  glorious  Head, 
what  can  open  to  more  enjoyment,  than  communion,  through  Him,  with 
the  members  of  his  mj^stical  body  ?  I  cannot  help  telling,  in  this  wav, 
many  precious  souls,  whom  I  love  in  the  faith,  and  who  I  know  love  me, 
that  I  am  looking  forward  to  much  spiritual  enjoyment  on  this  account, 
from  our  use  of  this  little  work,  humble  eis  it  is.  Not  from  my  poor  la- 
bours in  the  observations,  which  follow  the  Scripture  ;  but  from  God's 
blessing  on  the  Scripture  itself.  Let  it  be  supposed,  (what  is  very  pos- 
sible,) that  many  a  true  believer  in  Jesue^^  in  different  places,  be  led,  in 
one  and  the  same  moment  in  the  morning,  to  the  perusal  of  the  Morn- 
ing Portion.  Now,  as  the  Scripture  is  the  same  ;  as  the  Almighty  Spirit, 
who  is  the  Author  of  that  Scripture,  the  Quickener  in  prayer,  and  the 
Helper  of  the  infirmities  of  his  people  in  prayer,  is  the  same  ;  and  as  He, 
who  leads  out  the  minds  of  the  people,  at  all  times,  and  in  all  places,  is 
the  same  ;  and  his  blessed  work,  in  glorifying  the  Lord  Jesus,  is  always 
the  same  ;  what  can  be  more  animating  or  delightful  than  the  thought, 

1* 


Tl  PREFACE. 

that  all  so  engaged,  in  one  and  the  same  Scripture,  being  under  the 
same  gracious  influence,  must  necessarily  be  all  looking  up  to  the  Lord 
Jesus,  in  one  and  the  same  moment ;  and,  having  fellowship  with  the 
Father,  and  with  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  have  spiritual  union  also  one  with 
another,  as  members  of  his  body,  of  his  flesh,  and  of  his  bones.  Hence, 
though  far  asunder  from  each  other,  in  the  body,  and  in  numberless  in- 
stances having  never  seen  each  other's  face  in  the  flesh,  yet  by  virtue 
of  the  connexion  with  our  spiritual  Head,  we  truly  participate  in  one 
and  the  same  divine  life,  and  enjoy  the  very  sweet  and  distinguishing 
felicity,  of  the  Communion  of  Saints. 

I  stop  the  Reader  no  longer  than  just  to  say,  I  humbly  hope  every 
truly  gracious  and  awakened  soul,  who  makes  use  of  this  Morning  Por- 
tion, will  not  fail  to  connect  with  the  use  of  it,  a  constant  application  to, 
and  dependence  upon,  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  the  Glorifier  of  the  Father 
and  of  the  Son  ;  without  whose  work  upon  the  heart,  not  a  promise  can 
we  plead,  not  an  argument  can  we  use,  not  a  grace  caji  we  exercise, 
even  to  the  knowledge  of  our  wants,  or  of  the  fulness  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
to  supply  them.  But,  my  Brother,  let  me  add,  if  your  soul  be  warmed 
under  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  while  you  read  God's  pro- 
mise you  find  grace  to  convert  that  promise  into  a  prayer,  and  when  you 
have  thus  done  act  faith  upon  it,  this  will  be  to  realize  the  mercy,  and 
to  make  every  promise  your  own.  And  oh !  how  truly  blessed  is  it, 
when  the  believer  thus  proves  that  all  the  promises  of  God  in  Christ 
Jesus  are  Yea  and  Amen,  unto  the  glory  of  God  by  us. 


THE 


POOR  MAN'S  MORNING  PORTION. 


JANUARY 


1st. — ^Jesus  Christ ;   the   same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  for  ever. — 
Heh.  xiii.  8. 

Precious  truth  to  open  the  year  with,  and  to  keep  con- 
stantly in  view  amidst  all  the  fluctuating  and  changeable  cir- 
cumstances arising  both  within  and  without,  and  all  around ! 
My  soul,  meditate  upon  it :  fold  it  up  in  thy  bosom  to  have 
recourse  to  as  may  be  required.  Contemplate  thy  redeemer 
as  he  is  here  described.  He  is  Jesus,  thy  Jesus,  a  Saviour, 
for  he  shall  save  his  people  from  their  sins.  He  is  Christ 
also,  God  thy  Father's  Christ,  and  thy  Christ ;  the  Anointed, 
the  Sent,  the  Sealed  of  Jehovah.  He  is  the  same  in  his  glo- 
rious person  ;  the  same  in  his  great  salvation. —  Yesterday; 
looking  back  to  everlasting :  Today;  equally  so  through  all 
the  periods  of  time :  For  ever ;  looking  forward  to  the  eter- 
nity to  come.  And,  blessed  thought !  He  is  the  same  in  his 
love,  in  the  efficacy  of  his  redemption  ;  his  blood  to  cleanse, 
his  righteousness  to  justify,  his  fulness  to  supply  grace  here 
and  glory  hereafter.  And  what  sums  up  the  precious  thought ; 
amidst  all  thy  variableness,  thy  frames,  thy  fears,  doubts,  and 
unbelievings,  he  abideth  faithful.  He  is,  he  will  be,  he  must 
be,  Jesus.     Hallelujah ! 


2. — Lord !  let  it  alone  this  year  also,  till  I  shall  dig  about  it,  and  dung  it ; 
and  if  it  bear  fruit,  well ;  and  if  not,  after  that  thou  shalt  cut  it 
down. — Luke  xiii.  8,  9. 

Do  I  not  behold  the  Lord  Jesus  here  represented  in  his 
glorious  office  of  our  High-Priest  and  Intercessor  ?  And  is 
it  thus,  that  he  so  mercifully  pleads  for  the  unawakened  and 
unprofitable  among  his  people?  Pause,  my  soul!  Was  it 
not  from  the  effects  of  his  intercession,  that  the  world  itself 


8  MORNING   PORTION. 

was  spared  from  instant  destruction,  when  Adam  first  brake 
through  the  fence  of  God's  law?  Is  it  not  now  by  the  same 
rich  grace  that  thousands  are  spared  from  year  to  year  in 
Christ  Jesus,  before  that  they  are  called  to  the  knowledge  of 
Christ  Jesus  ?  Nay,  my  soul !  pause  once  more  over  the 
view  of  this  wonderful  subject,  and  ask  thyself,  Was  it  not 
from  the  same  Almighty  interposition  that  thou  was  kept 
from  going  down  to  the  pit,  during  the  long,  long  period  of 
thy  unregeneracy,  while  thou  wert  wholly  unconscious  of  it  1 
Hadst  thou  died  in  that  unconverted  state,  where  must  have 
been  thy  portion  ?  And  was  it  from  thy  gracious  interces- 
sion, blessed  Jesus,  that  1  then  lived,  that  I  am  now  spared, 
and,  after  all  my  barrenness,  that  another  year  of  grace  is 
opening  before  me  ?  Oh  precious,  precious  Jesus  !  suffer  me 
to  be  no  longer  unfruitful  in  thy  garden  !  Do,  Lord,  as  thou 
hast  said.  Dig  about  me,  and  pour  upon  me  all  the  sweet 
influences  of  thy  Holy  Spirit,  which,  like  the  rain,  and  the 
sun,  and  the  dew  of  heaven,  may  cause  me  to  bring  forth 
fruit  unto  God.  And,  Lord  !  if  so  unworthy  a  creature  may 
drop  a  petition  at  thy  mercy-seat  for  others,  let  the  coming 
year  be  productive  of  the  same  blessings  to  all  thy  redeemed  ; 
even  to  my  poor  una  wakened  relations ;  and  to  thousands  of 
those  who  are  yet  in  nature's  darkness.  Oh !  that  this  may 
be  to  them  the  acceptable  year  of  the  Lord ! 

3. — The  year  of  my  redeemed  is  come. — Isaiah  Ixii.  14. 

Yes  !  from  everlasting  the  precise  period  of  redemption 
was  determined,  and  the  appointed  time  of  the  vision  could 
not  tarry.  Every  intermediate  event  ministered  to  this  one 
glorious  aera,  redemption  by  Jesus.  The  Church  was  in 
Egypt  four  hundred  and  thirty  years,  and  in  Babylon  seventy. 
But  we  are  told  in  the  former  instance,  "  the  self-same  night 
the  Lord  brought  them  forth  with  their  armies,  and  the  lat- 
ter did  not  outstay  the  hour  of  their  promised  deliverance.  So 
when  the  fulness  of  time  was  come,  the  Son  of  God  came  for 
the  redemption  of  his  people.  And  observe  how  graciously 
Jesus  speaks  of  them ;  he  calls  them  his  redeemed.  They 
were  so  in  the  covenant  from  everlasting;  and  when  the 
time  arrives  for  calling  them  by  his  grace,  he  claims  them  as 
the  gift  of  his  father,  and  the  purchase  of  his  blood.  My 
soul,  is  this  thy  jubilee  year  ?  Art  thou  living  as  the  re- 
deemed of  the  Lord  ?  If  so,  plead  with  thy  redeemer  for  the 
hourly  renewed  visits  of  his  love  to  thee,  and  for  the  year  of 
redemption  to  all  his  unawakened. 


JANUARY.  9 

4. — And  when  Abram  was  ninety  years  old  and  nine,  the  Lord  appeared 
to  Abram,  and  said  unto  him,  I  am  the  Ahnigiity  God  :  walk  before 
me,  and  be  thou  perfect. — Gen.  xvii.  1. 

Our  old  Bibles,  in  their  margin,  have  retained  the  original 
El  Shaddai^  which  we  now  read  God  Almighty,  and  marked 
it  also  God  All-sufficient ;  meaning,  that  Jehovah  in  covenant 
with  Jesus  as  the  Head  of  his  people,  is  all  sufficient  in  him- 
self, and  all  sufficient  for  all  their  need  in  time  and  to  eter- 
nity. He  is  God  All-sufficient,  or  of  many  pajjs^  many  breasts 
of  consolation  (as  some  derive  the  word),  for  his  faithful  ones 
to  suck  at  and  draw  from,  in  an  endless  supply.  Here  then, 
my  soul,  take  this  sweet  title  of  thy  Covenant  God  and  Fa- 
ther in  Christ  Jesus  for  thy  daily  meditation,  both  at  the  open- 
ing and  through  all  thepeiiods  of  the  coming  year.  And  as 
even  at  old  age  the  Lord  still  opened  to  Abraham  this  pre- 
cious source  for  his  comfort,  so  look  up  in  Jesus  and  behold 
it  as  thine.  And  oh,  my  soul!  do  thou  walk  before  him  in 
the  perfect  righteousness  of  God  thy  Saviour,  and  thus  daily 
keep  up  fellowship  with  the  Father,  and  with  his  Son  Jesus 
Christ. 

5. — I  am  my  beloved's,  and  his  desire  is  towards  me. — Song  vii.  10. 

Yes,  dearest  Jesus  !  I  am  truly  thine,  for  thou  hast  dearly 
bought  me  with  thy  blood,  and  conquered  me  with  thy  grace. 
And  now,  through  thy  Spirit's  teaching,  I  can  and  do  discover 
that  from  everlasting  thy  desire  was  towards  thy  redeemed 
ones,  and  even  when  dead  in  trespasses  atid  sins  it  was  thy 
desire  to  quicken  them  into  life,  and  bring  them  to  thyself. 
And  even  now,  notwithstanding  all  my  backwardness  to  thee, 
thou  restest  in  thy  love,  and  thou  art  calling  me  by  thy  grace, 
and  seeking  continual  fellowship  in  ordinances,  and  by  thy 
word  and  providences;  all  which  prove  that  thy  desire  is 
towards  me.  And  as  to  the  everlasting  enjoyment  of  all  thy 
church  above,  thy  prayer  to  thy  Father  manifested  thy  desire, 
when  thou  saidst  "  Father,  I  will  that  they  whom  thou  hast 
given  me,  be  with  me  to  behold  my  glory  !"  Are  these  the 
desires  of  my  God  and  Saviour,  my  Husband,  my  Brother, 
my  Friend  ?  And  shall  my  heart  be  thus  cold  towards 
thee  ?  Oh  !  for  the  reviving  influences  of  thy  Spirit,  that  I 
may  cry  out  with  the  Church,  "  Let  him  kiss  me  with  the 
kisses  of  his  mouth  ;  for  thy  love  is  better  than  wine." 


10  MORNING    PORTION. 

6. — For  verily  he  took  not  on  him  the  nature  of  angels, — Heb.  vii.  10 

Contemplate,  my  soul,  the  peculiar  sweetness  of  that 
grace  which  was  in  thy  Jesus,  when,  for  the  accomplishment 
of  thy  salvation,  he  passed  by  the  nature  of  angels  to  take 
upon  him  thy  nature.  There  were  but  two  sorts  of  trans- 
gressors in  the  creation  of  God ;  angels  and  men.  But  an- 
gels are  left  in  everlasting  chains,  under  darkness,  to  the  judg- 
ment of  the  great  day :  and  fallen,  sinful,  rebellious  man, 
finds  grace  of  redemption.  Had  Jesus  taken  their  nature, 
would  not  this  have  been  nearer  to  his  own  ?  Would  not 
their  services  have  been  vastly  superior  to  ours  ?  Would  not 
the  redemption  of  beings  so  much  higher  in  rank  and  intel- 
lect, have  opened  a  far  larger  revenue  of  praise  to  our  adora- 
ble Redeemer?  Pause  over  these  thoughts,  my  soul,  and 
then  consider  therefrom  how  our  Jesus,  in  his  unequalled 
condescension,  hath  thereby  the  more  endeared  himself  to  thy 
love.  And  learn  from  hence,  that  if  Jesus  need  not  the  ser- 
vice of  angels,  how  is  it  possible  that  man  can  be  profitable  to 
God.  And  the  simple  act  of  faith  of  a  poor  fallen  sinner,  in 
believing  the  record  that  God  hath  given  of  his  dear  Son, 
gives  more  honour  to  God  than  all  the  services  of  men  or  an- 
gels for  ever.  Mark  this  down  as  a  blessed  truth  :  Jehovah  is 
more  glorified  by  thy  faith  and  trust  in  him,  than  by  all  thy 
works.  Lord,  give  me  this  faith,  that  I  may  cleave  to  thee, 
hang  upon  thee,  follow  thee,  and  never  give  over  looking 
unto  thee,  until  mine  eye-strings  break  and  my  heart-strings 
fail,  and  then  be  thou  '•  the  strength  of  my  heart,  and  my  por- 
tion for  ever!" 

7. — One  pearl  of  great  price. — Mat.  xiii.  46 

Great  indeed,  and  but  One  !  for  "  Salvation  is  in  no  other ; 
neither  is  there  any  other  name  under  Heaven  given  among 
men,  whereby  we  can  be  saved."  My  soul,  hast  thou  con- 
sidered Jesus  in  this  precious  point  of  view  ?  Hast  thou  be- 
held him  both  in  his  divine  and  human  nature,  how  unspeak- 
ably glorious  in  himself,  and  how  enriching  to  the  souls  of 
his  peopJe?  Art  thou  a  spiritual  merchantman,  seeking 
goodly  pearls  ?  and  is  Jesus  the  One,  the  only  One,  costly, 
precious,  and  so  infinitely  desirable  in  thine  eye,  that  thou 
art  willing  so  sell  all,  that  thou  wouldest  part  with  millions 
of  worlds,  rather  than  lose  Christ  ?  Hast  thou  found  him  in 
the  field  of  his  Scripture,  and  dost  thou  ask  how  shall  I  buy  ? 
Listen  to  his  own  most  gracious  words : — "  I  counsel  thee  to 


JANUARY.  1 1 

buy  of  me  gold  tried  in  the  fire,  that  thou  mayest  be  rich," 
Yes,  thou  generous  Lord !  I  am  come  to  buy  of  thee  without 
money  and  without  price.  For  well  I  know,  through  thy 
teaching,  that  neither  the  obedience  of  men  or  angels  can 
purchase  the  least  title  to  thee,  but  thine  own  precious  merits 
and  thine  atoning  blood.  And  now,  Lord,  possessing  thee,  I 
possess  all  things:  and  will  give  up  all  beside,  and  part  with 
all,  and  forget  all,  since  Jesus  is  mine,  and  I  am  his,  in  time 
and  to  all  eternity. 

6. — Thou  hast  kept  the  good  wine  until  now. — John  ii.  10. 

The  good  wine  of  the  gospel  must  be  Jesus  himself;  for 
He,  and  He  alone,  trod  the  winepress  of  his  Father's  wrath, 
when  the  Lord  bruised  him  and  put  him  to  grief.  This  is 
the  wine  which,  in  Scripture,  is  said  to  cheer  both  God  and 
men  :  for  when  God's  justice  took  the  full  draught  of  it  for 
the  sins  of  the  redeemed,  the  Lord  declared  himself  well 
pleased.  And  when  the  poor  sinner,  by  sovereign  grace,  is 
first  made  to  drink  of  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  he  feels  con- 
strained to  say,  the  Lord  had  kept  the  good  wine  until  now  ; 
for  never  before  had  his  soul  been  so  satisfied.  Oh,  precious 
Jesus!  how  sweet  is  the  thought!  Thy  first  miracle  con- 
verted water  into  wine.  Moses's  ministry,  under  thy  com- 
mission, was  first  manifested  in  turning  water  into  blood. 
Yes  I  dear  Lord  !  when  once  thy  grace  hath  wrought  upon 
the  heart  of  a  sinner,  thou  makest  his  most  common  mercies, 
like  water,  to  become  richer  than  wine.  Whereas  the  law, 
which  is  the  ministration  of  death  as  long  as  the  poor  sinner 
continues  under  its  power,  make  all  his  enjoyments  to  partake 
of  the  curse.  Oh !  for  continued  manifestations  of  thy  glory, 
dearest  Lord !  Give  me  to  drink  of  thy  best  wine,  my  be- 
loved, "  which  goeth  down  sweetly,  causing  the  lips  of  those 
that  sleep  to  speak." 

9. — That  will  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty. — Exod.  xxxiv.  7. 

Pause,  my  soul,  over  these  solemn  words  I  Will  not  Je- 
hovah clear  the  guilty?  And  art  thou  not  guilty?  How 
then  wilt  thou  come  before  God,  either  now  or  hereafter  ? 
Hearken,  my  soul,  to  what  thy  God  hath  also  said  : — •'  De- 
liver him  from  going  down  to  the  pit ;  I  have  found  a  ran- 
som." Oh!  soul-reviving,  soul-comforting  words!  Yes,  Jesus 
became  my  surety,  took  my  guilt,  and  bought  me  out  of  the 
hands  of  the  law  and  justice.  God  hath  not  therefore  cleared  the 
guilty,  but  taken  ample  satisfaction  on  the  person  of  the  sin- 


12  MORNING    PORTION 

ner's  surety.  Hence  now  the  double  claim  of  justice  and 
grace  demand  the  sinner's  pardon.  Here  then,  my  soul,  rest 
thy  present  and  thine  everlasting  plea.  Keep  up  a  daily,  an 
hourly  remembrance  of  it  at  the  mercy-seat.  While  Jesus 
lives,  and  lives  there  as  thine  advocate,  never  doubt  thy  ac- 
ceptance in  the  beloved.  Guilty  as  thou  art  in  thyself,  yet 
spotless  in  him.  The  same  God  which  made  thy  Jesus  to  be 
sin  for  thee,  who  knew  no  sin,  makes  thee  the  righteousness 
of  God  in  him. 

10. — My  beloved  is  gone  down  into  his  garden,  to  the  beds  of  spices,  to 
feed  in  the  gardens,  and  to  gather  Ulies. — Song  vi.  2. 

Wonderful  condescension  !  Jesus,  the  beloved  of  all  his 
people,  is  indeed  come  down  into  his  garden  the  Church  !  for 
he  loves  the  sacred  walks  of  a  spot  so  near  and  so  dear  to 
him,  which  is  at  once  the  gift  of  his  Father,  and  the  purchase 
of  his  own  most  precious  blood.  Moreover,  he  hath  gathered 
it  out  of  the  world's  wide  wilderness,  and  separated  it  as  a 
sacred  inclosure  by  his  distinguishing  grace.  Surely  then  he 
will  visit  it !  Yes  ;  here  he  constantly  walks :  here  he  comes 
to  observe  the  souls  of  his  people  as  trees  of  his  own  right- 
hand  planting.  He  is  said  to  feed  here :  for  the  graces  of 
his  Spirit,  which  he  calls  forth  into  exercise,  are  more  fragrant 
to  him  than  all  the  spices  of  the  East.  And  all  the  beauty 
and  whiteness  of  the  lily  is  not  to  be  compared  to  the  glory, 
loveliness,  and  sweet-smelKng  savour  of  the  righteousness  of 
Jesus,  in  which  he  beholds  the  souls  of  his  redeemed  as  clad. 
And  oh!  here  Jesus  is  gathering  them  to  himself  in  all  the 
different  degrees  of  their  growth,  from  the  first  moment  of 
planting  them  in  his  garden,  until  he  transplants  them  into 
the  paradise  of  God.  Art  thou,  my  soul,  in  this  garden  of 
Jesus  ?  Art  thou  rejoicing  under  his  gracious  hand  ?  Are 
the  dews  of  his  ordinances,  in  this  inclosure  of  thy  Lord, 
dropping  upon  thee  ? 

11. — I  am  the  bright  and  morning  star. — Rev.  xxii.  16. 

How  oft,  in  some  dark  wintry  morning  like"  the  present, 
have  I  beheld  the  morning  star  shining  with  loveliness,  when 
all  the  other  lights  of  heaven  were  put  out!  But  how  little 
did  I  think  of  thee,  thou  precious  light  and  life  of  men  !  Thou 
art  indeed  the  bright  and  Morning  Star  in  the  firmament  of 
thy  Church,  thy  word,  and  in  the  souls  of  thy  redeemed. 
Henceforth,  dearest  Jesus,  let  the  morning  visit  of  this  sweet 
Planet  to  our  darkened  earth  remind  me  of  thee,  amidst  all 


JANUARY.  13 

the  gross  darkness  in  which,  by  nature,  we  are  surrounded. 
Sure  pledge  of  day  as  this  beneficient  Star  is,  yet  not  more 
sure  than  thou  in  the  day-dawn  and  day-star  of  prophecy 
which  ministered  to  thy  coming  ;  and,  in  the  twilight  of  grace 
upon  the  soul,  the  forerunner  of  a  glorious  day.  Be  thou  my 
morning  song,  my  noontide-joy,  my  evening  meditation,  and 
midnight  light.  Through  all  the  wintry  seasons  of  my  pil- 
grimage shine  forth,  sweet  Jesus,  upon  my  soul.  Oh  !  ye 
sons  of  sloth,  ye  children  of  darkness  and  of  nighl,  rouse  from 
your  beds  of  drowsiness,  before  the  sleep  of  death  seal  up 
your  eyes  in  everlasting  darkness.  Jesus,  the  Morning  Star, 
now  shines  ;  and  ere  long  Jesus,  the  Son  of  Righteousness, 
will  appear,  no  more  to  go  down,  and  all  the  sons  of  God 
will  shout  for  joy  ! 

12. — If  thy  brother  be  waxen  poor,  and  hath  sold  away  some  of  his  pos- 
session, and  if  any  of  his  kin  come  to  redeem  it,  then  shall  he  re- 
deem that  which  his  brother  sold. — Levit.  xxv.  25. 

How  poor  and  wretched  was  I  before  I  knew  Jesus  !  1 
had  not  only  sold  some  of  my  possessions,  but  all.  I  was 
utterly  insolvent,  helpless,  and  ruined ;  one  like  the  Son  of 
Man  redeemed  me.  But  what  a  double  blessedness  was  it  to 
my  soul,  when  I  discovered. that  this  Redeemer  was  so  very 
near  of  kin  to  me  that  he  was  my  brother.  Hail,  thou  pre- 
cious, precious  Jesus !  thou  art,  indeed,  a  "  Brother  born  for 
adversity."  Yes;  blessed  Jesus!  thou  art  He  whom  thy 
brethren  shall  praise  ;  and  all  thy  Father's  children  shall  bow 
down  to  thee.  My  soul,  see  to  it  that  thou  make  the  most  of 
this  relationship.  Never,  oh  never,  will  thy  Brother  suffer 
his  poor  indigent  relation  to  want  any  more,  after  that  he  hath 
thus  redeemed  both  thyself  and  thy  possession.  Now  do  I 
see  why  it  was  the  Church  so  passionately  longed  for  Jesus 
under  this  tender  character.  "  Oh !  (said  she.)  that  thou 
wert  as  my  brother  that  sucked  the  breasts  of  my  mother  ; 
when  1  should  find  thee  without  I  would  kiss  thee,  yea,  I 
should  not  be  despised." 

13. — Master!  where  dwellest  thou? — John  i.  38. 

Is  this  the  earnest  inquiry  of  my  soul?  Hear  then  the  an- 
swer :  "  Thus  saith  the  High  and  Lofty  One,  whose  name  is 
Holy,  I  dwelL  in  the  high  and  holy  place  :  with  him  also  that 
is  of  a  contrite  and  humble  spirit,  to  revive  the  spirit  of  the 
humble,  and  to  revive  the  heart  of  the  contrite  ones."  Pause 
my  soul !     Are  these  the  qualities  produced  by  grace  in  thine 

2 


# 

14  MORNING   PORTION. 

heart?  Jesus,  Master,  make  me  what  thou  wouldest  have  me 
to  be;  and  then  come,  Lord,  agreeable  to  thy  promises. 
Thou  hast  said.  My  Father  will  come,  and  I  will  come,  and 
make  our  abode  with  him.  And  thou  hast  said,  The  Holy 
Ghost  shall  come  and  abide  with  you  for  ever.  What,  my 
soul !  shall  I  indeed  have  such  glorious  personages  for  my 
companions  1  Behold,  Lord,  the  heaven,  and  the  heaven  of 
heavens,  cannot  contain  thee  !  Oh  !  for  grace  and  a  sanctity 
of  thought  corresponding  to  such  mercies,  since  our  bodies 
are  the  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost  which  dwelleth  in  us  ! 

14. — A.nd  she  said  to  the  king,  it  was  a  true  report  that  I  lieard  in  mine 
own  land  of  thy  acts,  and  of  thy  wisdom.  Howbeit,  I  beheved  not 
the  words  until  I  came,  and  mine  eyes  had  seen  it ;  and  behold  the 
half  was  not  told  me. — 1  Kings  x.  6,  7. 

If  the  Queen  of  the  South  was  so  astonished  in  the  view 
of  Solomon's  wisdom,  what  ought  to  be  thy  surprise,  my  soul, 
in  the  contemplation  of  Jesus,  in  whom  are  hid  all  the  trea- 
sures of  wisdom  and  knowledge?  When  thou  didst  first 
hear  of  Jesus,  and  when  constrained  by  necessity  to  come  to 
him,  a  poor,  blind,  ignorant  sinner,  how  little  didst  thou  con- 
ceive either  of  th^^self  or  him  !  He  told  thee,  indeed,  all  that 
was  in  thine  heart,  and  made  thy  very  spirit,  like  her's,  to 
faint  Vv'ithin  thee,  when  he  shewed  thy  sin  and  his  salvation. 
Surely  then,  and  often  since,  even  now  hast  thou  been  con- 
strained to  say,  as  she  did,  the  half  Avas  not  told  thee  by 
others,  of  what  sweet  discoveries  he  hath  made  to  thee  of 
himself  Think  then,  my  soul,  what  holy  surprise  and  joy 
will  burst  in  upon  thee  in  the  day  when,  at  the  fountain-head 
of  glory  in  his  courts  above,  he  will  unfold  all  his  beauty, 
love,  and  wisdom  ;  when  thou  shalt  see  him  as  he  is,  and 
know  even  as  thou  art  known  ! 

15. — I  was  brought  lov,'^  and  he  helped  me. — Psalm  cxvi.  G. 

It  is  blessed  sometimes  that  the  streams  of  creature-comforts 
should  be  dry,  in  order  to  compel  us  to  go  to  the  fountain- 
head.  When  the  fig-tree  doth  not  blossom,  and  the  fields 
yield  no  meat,  then  a  Covenant  God  is  precious  to  fiy  to. 
My  soul !  say,  w^as  not  that  assault  of  Satan  sanctified,  when 
it  brought  Jesus  thereby  to  thy  rescue  ?  Was  not  that  cross 
sweetly  timed,  when  it  tended  to  wean  thee  from  the  world  ? 
And  wouldest  thou  have  been  without  that  sickness,  when 
Jesus  sat  up  by  thee,  soothed  thee  in  thy  languor,  and  made 
all  thy  bed  in  thy  sickness  ?     Well  was  it  for  me  that  I  was 


JANUARY.  15 

brought  low,  or  I  should  never  have  known  in  a  thousand 
instances  the  help  of  my  God.  Oh  then,  my  soul !  like  Paul, 
learn  to  glory  in  thy  infirmities,  that  the  power  of  Jesus  may 
rest  upon  thee  ! 

16. — And  Hezekiah  rejoiced,  and  all  the  people,  that  God  had  prepared 
the  people ;  for  the  thing  was  done  suddenly. — 2  Chron.  xxix.  36. 

Sweet  thought  ever  to  keep  in  view,  that  it  is  the  Lord 
that  prepares  the  heart,  and  gives  answers  to  the  tongue. 
And,  oh  !  how  sudden,  how  unexpected,  how. unlooked-for, 
sometimes,  are  the  visits  of  his  grace  !  "  Or  ever  I  was  aware 
(saith  the  Church)  my  soul  made  me  like  the  chariots  of 
Amminadib."  Is  my  heart  cold,  my  mind  barren,  my  framo 
lifeless  ?  Do  thou  then,  dearest  Lord,  make  me  to  rejoice  in 
warming  my  fmzen  affection,  making  fruitful  my  poor  estate, 
and  putting  new  hfe  into  my  soul.  All  I  want  is  a  frame  of 
mind  best  suited  to  thy  glory.  And  what  is  that  ?  Truly, 
that  when  I  have  nothing,  feel  nothing,  can  do  nothing,  am 
worse  than  nothing,  that  then,  even  then,  I  may  be  rich  in 
thee  amidst  all  my  own  bankruptcy.  This,  dear  Lord,  is 
what  I  covet.  And  if  thou  withholdest  all  frames  which 
might  melt,  or  warm,  or  rejoice  my  own  feelings,  yet  if  my 
soul  still  hangs  upon  thee  notwithstanding  all,  as  the  vessel 
upon  the  nail,  my  God  and  Jesus  will  be  my  rock,  that  feels 
nothing  of  the  ebbings  and  flowings  of  the  sea  around,  what- 
ever be  the  tide  of  my  fluctuating  affections. 

17. — My  beloved  standeth  behind  our  wall.     He  looketh  forth  at  the 
window,  shewing  himself  through  the  lattice. — Song.  ii.  9. 

It  might  be  truly  said,  that  it  was  behind  the  wall  of  our 
nature  the  Lord  Jesus  stood,  when,  by  taking  a  body  of 
flesh,  he  veiled  the  glories  of  his  Godhead,  during  the  days 
of  his  humanity.  And  may  it  not  be  as  truly  said,  that  it  is 
still,  as  from  behind  a  wall,  all  the  gracious  discoveries  he 
now  makes  of  himself  are  manifested  to  his  people  ?  For 
what  from  the  dulness  of  our  perception,  the  unbelief  and 
the  sins  and  infirmities  of  our  nature,  the  most  we  see  of  our 
Jesus  is  but  as  thro"ugh  a  glass  darkly.  But  yet,  my  soul, 
how  sweet  are  even  these  visits  of  his  love,  when  we  can 
get,  though  but  a  glimpse  of  the  King  in  his  beauty  through 
the  windows  of  ordinances,  or  the  lattice  of  his  blessed  word. 
Oh!  precious  Jesus !  let  thy  visits  be  frequent,  increasingly 
lovely,  and  increasingly  glorious,  that  the  souls  of  thy  people 
may  increasingly  delight  in  thee.      Methinks  I  would  lay 


16  MORNING   PORTION, 

about  the  doors,  and  windows,  and  courts  of  thy  house,  and  be 
sending  in  a  wish,  and  the  fervent  prayer  of  a  poor  beggar 
who  is  living  on  thy  bounty,  that  thou  wouldest  come  forth  to 
my  view  and  bless  me  with  thy  presence,  until  that  all  inter- 
vening mediums  of  walls  and  windows  are  thrown  down,  and 
Jesus  manifests  himself  to  my  longing  eyes  in  all  his  glory. 

18. — Therefore  doth  my  Father  love  me,  because  I  lay  down  my  life 
that  I  might  take  it  up  again. — John  x.  17. 

Mark,  my  soul,  the  precious  cause  thy  Jesus  here  assigns 
for  the  love  of  his  Father.  God  the  Father  not  only  loves 
God  the  Son  as  God,  one  with  him  in  nature  and  in  all  di- 
vine perfections ;  but  he  loves  him  peculiarly  because  he 
voluntarily  undertook  and  accomplished  by  his  death  the 
salvation  of  his  people.  Now  then,  my  soul,  make  these 
two  sweet  improvements  from  what  Jesus  hath  here  said. 
First,  think  what  must  have  been,  and  now  is,  the  love  of 
thy  God  and  Father  to  thee  and  every  poor  sinner,  when  he 
truly  loves  his  dear  Son  because  he  became  the  Saviour  of 
poor  sinners.  And,  secondly,  think  what  love  Jesus  hath 
shown  to  poor  sinners  in  thus  manifesting  his  mercy  in  such 
a  way,  and  how  dear  they  must  be  to  the  heart  of  Jesus, 
which  have  made  him  dear  in  the  sight  of  God.  My  soul ! 
never  lose  sight  of  this  argument  when  thou  goest  to  the 
mercy-seat.  Tell  thy  God  and  Father  thou  art  come  to  ask 
mercies  in  his  name,  and  for  his  righteousness'  sake,  whom 
the  Father  loveth  on  this  very  account.  And  oh  !  how  very 
dear  should  Jesus  be  to  thee  for  his  blood  and  righteousness, 
who  is  dear  to  the  Father  for  the  same  cause. 

19. — As  the  new  wine  is  found  in  the  cluster,  and  one  saith,  Destroy  it 
not,  for  a  blessing  is  in  it ;  so  will  I  do  for  my  servant's  sake,  that 
I  may  not  destroy  them  all. — Isaiah  Ixv.  8. 

It  is  blessed  to  trace  our  mercies  to  the  fountain  head,  and 
to  find  them  all  folded  up  from  everlasting  in  Jesus !  What 
was  it  that  preserved  our  whole  nature  when  blasted  and 
withered  by  the  fall?  Was  it  not  because  Jesus,  the  promised 
seed,  was  in  it?  And  what  is  it  that  preserves  every  indi- 
vidual among  the  children  of  God,  during  the  dark  season 
of  their  unregeneracy,  but  the  same  precious  cause?  He 
that  looks  on  (and  who  is  this  but  Christ  himself?)  amidst 
all  our  perishing  circumstances,  by  his  powerful  and  all-pre- 
vailing intercession  commands  the  destroyer  not  to  touch  his 
people;  for  though  in  themselves  loathsome,  yet  in  Jesus  are 
they  fair  and  lovely.     My  soul,  learn  hence  thy  security. 


JANUARY.  17 

The  whole  cause  for  which  thou  wert  preserved  until  called, 
andj  when  called,  preserved  through  grace  unto  glory,  both 
in  conversion  and  in  every  after-act  of  God's  dealings  with 
thee,  all  refers  itself  to  this  one  source — Destroy  it  not,  there 
is  a  blessing  m  thee,  though  not  from  thee :  Jesus  is  in  thee, 
as  the  new  wine  is  found  in  the  cluster ! 

20. — What  shall  be  done  to  the  man  whom  the  king  delighteth  to  hon- 
our ? — Esther  vi.  6. 

Nay,  my  soul,  ask  thine  own  heart  what  shall  be  done  to 
the  God-man  whom  Jehovah,  the  King  of  kings,  delighteth 
to  honour?  Oh!  for  the  view  of  what  John  saw,  and  to 
hear  what  John  heard,  when  he  beheld  heaven  opened,  and 
heard  the  innumerable  multitude  chanting  Salvation  to  God 
and  the  Lamb !  Lord,  I  would  say,  let  every  knee  bow  be- 
fore him,  and  every  tongue  confess  that  Jesus  Christ  is  Lord, 
to  the  glory  of  God  the  Father.  And  oh !  most  gracious 
Father,  dost  thou  take  delight  that  Jesus  should  be  honoured  ? 
Is  it  thine  honour  when  Jesus  is  honoured  ;  thy  glory  when 
Jesus  is  glorified  ?  Oh !  what  wonderful  encouragement  is 
this  to  the  faith  and  belief  of  a  poor  sinner ;  that  I  not  only 
praise  my  adorable  Redeemer  when  I  come  to  him  for  all 
things,  and  trust  him  for  all  things ;  but  these  exercises  of 
grace  are  as  acceptable  to  God  my  Father,  as  they  are  hon- 
ourable to  God  the  Son.  And  this  is  the  only  way,  and  a  blessed 
way  it  is  indeed,  by  which  a  poor  sinner  can  give  glory  to  the 
Father,  in  believing  the  record  which  he  hath  given  of  his 
Son.  Here,  then,  my  soul,  do  thou  daily  be  found  in  hon- 
ouring the  Glory-man,  the  God-man  Christ  Jesus,  whom 
God  the  Father  delighteth  to  honour. 

21. — But  for  Adam  there  was  not  found  an  help  meet  for  him. — Gen. 
XX.  20. 

My  soul !  mark  what  is  here  said,  for  sure  it  is  a  sweet 
Scripture.  Amidst  all  the  works  of  God,  there  was  not  one 
that  could  be  found  an  help  meet  for  man.  The  inferior 
creatures  could  indeed  minister  to  his  bodily  comfort,  but  not 
to  his  soul.  Eve  herself,  with  all  her  loveliness,  must  have 
failed  in  this  particular.  Both  the  woman  and  her  husband  alike 
needed  this  help  to  the  soul.  How  refreshing  is  the  thought, 
and  what  a  lovely  view  doth  it  give  us  of  God's  grace  and 
mercy,  that  in  the  seed  of  the  woman  an  help,  in  the  fullest 
sense  of  the  word,  was  found,  both  for  time  and  eternity. 
Yes ;  blessed  Jesus !  in  thee  we  trace  this  wonderous  gift  of 
God.     Pause  then,  my  soul!    and  add  this  thought  to  the 

2* 


18  MORNING   PORTION. 

vast  account :  The  same  love  which  fitted  thee  with  an  help 
meet  in  a  Saviour,  hath  fitted  thee,  and  will  continue  to  fit 
thee,  with  the  supply  of  all  thy  need.  It  were  to  be  wished 
that  every  child  of  God  would  never  lose  sight  of  this  cer- 
tain truth — that  he  must  have  the  fittest  station  in  life,  the 
fittest  frame  of  mind  and  of  body,  the  fittest  yoke-fellow,  the 
fittest  circumstances ;  in  short,  the  fittest  mercies  and  the 
fittest  trials ;  because  every  thing  is  made  subservient  to  the 
divine  glory  in  Jesus.  Sweet  thought!  He  that  spared  not 
his  own  Son,  will,  with  him,  freely  give  all  things. 

22. — They  shall  cry  unto  the  Lord,  because  of  the  oppressors,  and  he 
shall  send  them  a  Saviour,  and  a  great  one,  and  he  shall  dehver 
them. — Isaiah  xix.  20. 

Mark,  my  soul,  the  sweet  encouragement  contained  in 
these  words.  Here  is  a  cry — and  it  is  the  cry  of  the  soul ; 
for  it  is  directed  unto  the  Lord.  There  is  (as  Elihu  tells  us) 
a  cry  of  nature  under  oppressions ;  but  as  this  is  not  to  God, 
it  is  evident  that  it  never  came  from  God  ;  for  he  tells  us  that 
none  of  them  saith,  "  Where  is  God  my  Maker,  who  giveth 
songs  in  the  night?"  Job  xxxv.  9.  But  when  the  Holy 
Ghost  convinceth  of  sin,  and  puts  a  cry  in  the  heart  by 
reason  of  it,  he  convinceth  also  of  the  righteousness  of  Jesus. 
Hence  the  difference  of  those  cries  is  as  wide  as  the  East  is 
from  the  West.  Mark  therefore,  my  soul,  this  distinguishing 
feature  of  grace ;  and  see  whether  thy  cries  are  praying 
cries,  and  not  complaini?ig  ones.  And  now  observe  what 
follows.  When  poor  sinners  thus  cry  unto  the  Lord,  he 
shall  send  them  a  Saviour,  and  a  great  one.  Who,  but  God 
the  Father,  sent  his  Son  to  be  the  Saviour  of  poor  lost  sin- 
ners? Was  not  Jesus  a  Saviour  indeed,  and  a  great  one? 
Who,  but  He,  could  deliver  the  sinner  from  destruction ! 
And  remark,  further,  the  absolute  certainty  of  the  promise ; 
for  it  is  said.  He  shall  deliver  them.  Yes,  blessed  Jesus ! 
thy  deliverance  is  sure ;  thy  salvation  certain.  Thou  hast 
said,  thy  sheep  shall  never  perish  ;  neither  shall  any  pluck 
them  out  of  thine  hand.  Pause  now,  ray  soul,  over  this 
sweet  verse.  Surely  in  its  bosom  is  folded  up  the  sum  and 
substance  of  all  the  gospel.  Here  are  all  the  Persons  of  the 
Godhead,  engaged  for  the  salvation  of  every  poor  crying 
sinner.  Here  is  God  the  Holy  Ghost,  agreeably  to  his 
blessed  office,  causing  the  sinner  to  feel  the  oppressions  of 
sin,  and  putting  a  cry  in  his  heart,  to  the  Lord,  to  be  deliv- 
ered from  them.     Here  is  God  the  Father  answering  that 


JANUARY.  19 

cry,  in  mercy,  and  sending  his  Almighty  Son  to  be  the  Sa- 
viour of  the  poor  sinner.  And  here  is  Jesus  the  Saviour, 
and  a  great  one,  saving  the  poor  sinner  with  an  everlasting 
salvation.  Shout  then,  my  soul,  and  begin  the  song  of  Sal- 
vation to  God  and  the  Lamb. 

23. — As  sin  hath  reigned  unto  death,  even  so  might  grace  reign  through 
righteousness,  unto  eternal  life,  by  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. — Roj7i. 
V.  21. 

Pause,  my  soul,  and  put  forth  thy  fullest  thoughts  in  the 
contemplation  of  those  two  united  sources  of  thy  felicity, 
marked  in  this  verse :  the  Father's  eternal  purpose,  in  the 
reign  of  grace  ;  and  the  everlasting  efficacy  and  infinite  value 
of  thy  Jesus's  righteousness,  to  eternal  life.  None  but  God 
himself  can  know  the  fullness  and  extent  of  either.  I  am 
persuaded,  that  angels  of  light  can  never  entertain  adequate 
conceptions  of  either.  The  eternal  purpose  of  God  hath 
bounded  the  reign  of  sin :  it  is  but  unto  death.  But  those 
purposes  give  a  further  extent  to  the  redemption  from  death 
and  sin,  by  Jesus ;  for  the  glory  of  Christ's  person,  and  the 
worth  of  his  salvation,  possess,  in  both,  a  vast  overplus,  a  re- 
dundancy of  merit,  which  brings  the  redeemed  into  favour 
and  acceptance  in  Jesus,  and  with  such  a  title  to  everlasting 
felicity  as  eternity  itself  can  never  exhaust — no,  nor  fully  re- 
compense or  pay.  Oh  !  for  grace  to  contemplate  the  love  of 
the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  by  this  standard.  Lord,  I  would 
be  lost,  I  would  be  swallowed  up,  day  by  day  in  the  unceas- 
ing meditation.  Dearest,  blessed,  precious  Jesus  !  give  me 
to  think  of  nothing  else :  to  speak  of  nothing  else  ;  but,  by 
faith,  to  possess  in  anticipation  the  joys  of  thy  redeemed,  until 
I  come,  through  thee,  and  in  thee,  to  the  everlasting  enjoy- 
ment of  them,  in  thy  kingdom  of  glory. 

24. — And  he  shewed  me  Joshua  the  high -priest  standing  before  the  angel 
of  the  Lord,  and  Satan  standing  at  his  right  hand  to  resist  him. 
And  the  Lord  said  unto  Satan,  the  Lord  rebuke  thee,  O  Satan  : 
even  the  Lord  that  hath  chosen  Jerusalem,  rebuke  thee.  Is  not 
this  a  brand  plucked  out  of  the  fire  ? — Zech.  iii.  1 ,  2. 

Who  shall  say,  how  many  such  transactions  as  these  are 
continually  going  on,  for  and  against  the  people  of  God,  in 
the  court  of  Heaven,  while  we,  upon  earth,  are  unconscious 
either  of  our  misery  or  mercy.  The  Holy  Ghost  was  gra- 
ciously pleased  to  have  this  made  knowm  to  the  church.  And 
John  had  it  again  in  commission  to  tell  the  church,  that  a 
song  in  heaven  was  sung  at  the  expulsion  of  the  devil  from 


20  MORNING   PORTION. 

heaven,  because  the  accuser  of  the  brethren  was  cast  douTi. 

My  soul !  doth  he  that  first  tempts  thee,  then  become  thine 
accuser  ?  Is  he  carrying  on  this  practice,  day  and  night,  be- 
fore God  ?  And  while  Satan  is  thine  accuser,  is  Jesus  thine 
Advocate  1  Oh !  precious,  precious  Lord !  how  little  hath 
my  poor  ignorant  and  unthinking  soul  been  meditating  on 
thee,  in  this  thy  merciful,  sweet,  and  gracious  office.  Oh  ! 
glorious  thought !  Now  I  see  a  blessedness  in  that  Scrip- 
ture which  I  have  often  read  with  indifference  in  times  past. 
^'  If  any  man  sin,  we  have  an  Advocate  with  the  Father, 
Jesus  Christ  the  righteous  ;  and  he  is  (for  God  my  Father 
hath  set  him  forth  so)  the  propitiation  for  our  sins."  Hail, 
holy,  wonderful  Counsellor.  Condescend,  thou  mighty 
Pleader,  still  to  take  up  my  cause.  Oh  !  may  I  behold  thee 
often  in  this  high  office  !  Oh,  may  I  often  hear  thee  with 
the  ear  of  faith,  and  my  whole  soul  going  forth  in  love  to- 
wards thee,  while  thou  art  pointing  to  my  poor  soul,  and 
saying,  "  Hath  not  God  the  Father  chosen  this  brand  plucked 
from  the  fire  !  Take  away  the  filthy  garments  from  him.  I 
have  caused  thine  iniquity  to  pass  from  thee." 

25. — This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that  Christ 
Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners. — 1  Timothy  i.  15. 

Hark,  my  soul,  to  the  proclamation  from  heaven  !  Is  this 
the  faithful  saying  of  a  faithful  God?  Surely,  then,  thou 
may  est  well  regard  it ;  for  it  is  for  thy  life.  And  if  it  be 
\vorthy  of  all  acceptation,  it  must  be  eminently  so  of  thi?ie ; 
for  thou  hast  been  a  transgressor  from  the  womb.  But  did 
Jesus  indeed  come  to  save  sinners  ?  Yes  !  so  the  proclama- 
tion runs.  Sinners,  enemies  to  God.  Jesus,  it  is  said,  re- 
ceived gifts  for  the  rebellious,  that  the  Lord  God  might  dwell 
among  them.  And  with  that  tenderness  which  distinguished 
his  character,  he  said  himself,  that  he  came  not  to  call  the 
righteous,  but  sinners  to  repentance.  Well  then,  my  soul, 
upon  this  warrant  of  the  faithful  word  of  a  faithful  God,  wilt 
thou  not  so  fully  rely  as  to  believe  unto  salvation?  If  any 
inquiries  arise  contrary  to  this  belief,  let  this  be  thine  answer: 
— Christ  came  to  save  sinners:  that's  enough  for  me;  for  I 
am  one.  God's  salvation  is  said  to  be  for  enemies  :  that  is  my 
name  by  nature.  Jesus  received  gifts  for  the  rebellious :  to 
this  character  I  plead  also  guilty.  If  men  or  devils  would 
endeavour  to  work  unbelief  in  my  heart,  this  is  my  answer: 
Christ  came  to  save  sinners.  Let  those  that  never  felt  sin, 
and  consequently  know  not  the  need  of  a  Saviour,  stay  and 


JANUARY.  21 

argue  the  point  as  they  may ;  my  soul's  eternal  welfare  is 
concerned,  and  I  will  not  lose  a  moment  to  close  with  the 
heavenly  proposal.  Lord  Jesus,  thou  waitest  to  be  gracious  ! 
The  faithful  saying  of  my  God  I  accept  on  my  bended  knees. 
It  is,  indeed,  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  and,  above  all,  of 
mine.  Here,  while  upon  earth,  will  I  proclaim  thy  praise  ; 
and,  in  Heaven,  the  loudest  of  all  voices  must  be  mine,  that 
Christ  came  to  save  sinners,  of  whom  I  am  chief 

26. — And  they  said  one  to  another,  Did  not  our  heart  bum  within  us 
while  he  talked  with  us  by  the  way,  and  while  he  opened  to  us  the 
Scriptures  ? — Luke  xxiv.  32. 

Ought  not  the  disciples  of  Jesus  to  do  now,  as  the  disciples 
of  Jesus  did  then  ?  What  but  of  Jesus  should  we  speak  of 
by  the  way?  Methinks  the  Lord's  people,  and  especially 
when  coming  from  the  Lord's  house,  should  be  distinguished 
from  the  frothy  conversation  of  mere  carnal  worshippers.  I 
would,  by  talking  of  Jesus,  invite  him  to  mingle  with  us,  and 
open  to  our  understandings  the  Scriptures.  I  would  there- 
fore sometimes  ask  one,  and  another,  when  returning  from 
the  house  or  the  table  of  the  Lord,  How  went  the  matter  with 
your  soul  to-day  ?  I  pray  you  tell  me ;  was  the  King  at 
court?  Did  he  receive  petitions?  Did  he  answer  prayers? 
Were  you  refreshed  :  were  any  healed  ;  any  comforted  ;  any 
made  joyful,  in  his  house  of  prayer  ?  Surely  we  might  hope, 
by  such  edifying  inquiries,  each  would  help  his  fellow.  And 
He,  of  whom  it  is  said  the  Lord  hearkened  and  heard,  when 
of  old  the  people  of  God  were  often  talking  one  to  another, 
would  again  draw  nigh,  and  make  the  heart  burn  with  the 
sweet  manifestations  of  his  love.  But  chiefly,  blessed  Master  ! 
if  I  meet  with  none  to  ask  whether  they  have  seen  the  King 
in  his  beauty,  give  me  to  taste  of  the  sweet  savour  of  thy 
grace  myself:  come  to  me,  Lord,  in  the  refreshing,  strength- 
ening, heart-warming,  soul-rejoicing,  manifestations  of  thy 
presence ;  for  thy  love  is  better  than  wine ;  and  the  very 
crumb  from  under  thy  table  is  more  delicious  than  the  honey 
and  the  honey-comb. 

27. — He  shall  glorify  me  ;  for  he  shall  receive  of  mine,  and  shedl  shew 
it  unto  you.     John  xvi.  14. 

Some  precious  souls  are  at  a  loss  to  apprehend  how  the 
Holy  Ghost  makes  application  of  Jesus,  and  his  benefits,  to 
his  people.  Hence  they  ask,  How  am  I  to  know  that  the 
righteousness  of  Jesi^s,  and  the  blood  of  Jesus,  are  applied  to 


22  MORNING   PORTION. 

me?  But  be  not  thou,  my  soul,  ignorant  of  so  important  a 
matter,  on  the  clear  apprehension  of  which  thy  daily  comfort 
depends.  Attend,  my  soul,  to  what  thy  Jesus  saith  in  those 
precious  words  ;  and,  under  the  blessed  Spirit's  teaching,  the 
matter  will  appear  abundantly  plain.  He  shall  glorify  me, 
saith  Jesus.  And  doth  not  the  Holy  Ghost  do  this  in  every 
believer's  view,  when  he  gives  the  soul  to  see  that  all  that 
vast  extent  of  redemption  blessings,  which  the  Father 
treasured  up  in  his  dear  Son  for  poor  sinners,  flow  immedi- 
ately from  Jesus  ?  And  observe,  the  Holy  Ghost  doth  not  at 
first  show  the  sinner  that  all  result  from  the  everlasting  love 
and  grace,  and  purpose  of  God  the  Father ;  but  he  leads  the 
sinner  to  view  them,  and  receive  them  as  the  blessed  fruits 
and  effects  of  Jesus's  meditation ;  and  then  opens  more  fully 
the  glory  of  the  Father  in  the  original  design  of  them,  in  this 
precious  way,  from  everlasting.  This  is  indeed  to  glorify 
Jesus,  and  to  glorify  the  Father  in  him.  And  how  are  these 
blessings  applied?  The  scriptural  answer  is  the  best  an- 
swer:— "  He  shall  receive  of  mine,"  saith  Jesus,  "  and  show 
it  unto  you."  And  doth  not  that  Almighty  teacher  do  all 
this  most  sweetly  and  effectually,  when,  at  any  time,  he  so 
holds  up  the  Lord  Jesus,  in  all  the  glories  of  his  person,  and 
in  all  the  beauties  of  his  finished  work,  as  to  incline  the  sin- 
ner's heart  so  to  behold  the  Saviour  as  to  believe  in  him,  and 
firmly  to  rely  upon  him  ?  Is  not  the  righteousness  of  Jesus 
received,  and  his  precious  blood  applied,  when  the  soul  is  led 
to  the  hearty  and  cordial  assurance,  that  that  righteousness  is 
effectual  to  justify,  and  that  blood  to  cleanse  from  all  sin  1 
Yes,  precious  Jesus !  I  praise  thee  for  these  blessings  in 
thee.  I  adore  thee,  thou  Holy  Spirit,  for  thy  divine  teaching 
concerning  them.  And  I  glorify  thee,  thou  Almighty  Father, 
for  thine  abundant  grace  and  mercy,  in  the  gift  of  thy  dear 
Son. 

28. — As  having  nothing,  and  yet  possessing  all  things. — 2  Cor.  vi.  10. 

My  soul,  hast  thou  learnt  this  holy  science  1  There  are 
three  blessed  lessons  the  Holy  Ghost  teacheth  on  this  ground. 
As,  first,  The  believer  is  thoroughly  emptied  of  himself  Art 
thou  thus  taught  of  God?  Hast  thou  been  led  to  see,  to 
feel,  to  know,  to  be  convinced  that,  after  all  thine  attainments, 
after  all  thy  long  standing  in  the  school  of  Jesus,  thou  hast 
nothing,  canst  do  nothing,  art  worse  than  nothing  ;  and,  lite- 
rally, hast  no  more  in  thyself  now  to  recommend  thee  to  Jesus, 
than  the  first  moment  thou  didst  hear  of  his  name  ?     This  is 


JANUARY.  23 

to  have  nothing.  This  is  to  be  poor  in  spirit.  Secondly^ 
Dost  thou  possess  all  things  in  Jesus  ?  Yes  !  if  so  be  thou 
art  living  out  of  thyself  wholly  upon  Him.  And  how  is  this 
known?  Nothing  more  evident.  When  a  sense  of  my 
emptiness  endears  to  me  his  fulness  ;  my  poverty,  his  riches  ; 
my  weakness,  his  strength  ;  my  sins,  his  righteousness :  my 
guilt,  his  blood  ;  I  truly  possess  all  things,  as  far  as  I  ap- 
prove what  Jesus  is  to  his  people,  and  rest  upon  Him  and  the 
blessed  fruits  of  his  salvation,  as  God  the  Father  designed 
him,  who  hath  made  him  wisdom,  righteousness,  sanctifica- 
tion,  and  redemption,  to  his  people.  And  there  is  a  third 
precious  lesson  the  Holy  Ghost  teacheth  to  the  poor  that  have 
nothing,  and  yet  possess  all  things;  namely,  so  to  possess  Jesus 
himself,  that  he  may  not  only  make  his  poor  ones  rich  in  his 
riches,  but  be  himself  their  treasure ;  so  to  supply  them  not 
only  with  what  they  need,  but  to  be  himself  their  fulness ; 
not  only  to  open  to  them  light  and  life,  but  to  be  himself  both 
their  light  and  hfe  ;  so  to  impart  to  them  salvation,  as  to 
show  them  that  he  is  himself  their  salvation  :  and,  in  short, 
so  to  give  them  present  peace,  and  the  assurance  of  everlast- 
ing happiness  in  his  blood  and  righteousness,  as  to  give  them 
the  perfect  enjoyment  that  he  is  himself  both  their  present 
and  everlasting  happiness,  and  their  portion  for  ever  !  My 
soul !  hast  thou  learnt,  and  art  thou  every  day  more  and 
more  learning  these  precious  truths  ?  Oh  !  then,  look  up  to 
thy  Jesus,  and  say  with  one  of  old,  "  Whom  have  I  in  heaven 
but  thee;  and  there  is  none  upon  earth  I  desire  beside  thee. 
My  flesh  and  my  heart  faileth  ;  but  thou  art  the  strength  of 
my  heart,  and  my  portion  for  ever." 

29. — If  the  servant  shall  plainly  say,  I  love  ray  master,  my  wife,  and 
my  children,  I  will  not  go  ont  free.  Then  his  master  shall  bring 
him  unto  the  judges  ;  he  shall  also  bring  him  home  to  the  door,  or 
unto  the  doorpost,  and  his  master  shall  bore  his  ear  through  with  an 
awl,  and  he  shall  serve  him  for  ever. — Exodus  xxi.  5,  6. 

How  sweet  is  Scripture  explained  by  Scripture.  Jesus 
saith,  when  sacrifice  and  offering  under  the  law  were  both 
unprofitable,  "  Mine  ears  hast  thou  opened  ;"  or,  as  it  might 
have  been  rendered,  "  Mine  ears  hast  thou  digged."  Psalm 
xl.  6.  And  elsewhere  : — "  The  Lord  God  hath  opened  mine 
ear,  and  I  was  not  rebellious."  Isaiah  1.  5.  The  Apostle  to 
the  Hebrews  decidedly  explains  this  in  reference  to  Christ. 
Heb.  X.  5.  And  what  was  all  this  but  to  show  the  voluntary 
service  of  Jesus  to  the  office  and  work  of  the  Redeemer  ? 


24  MORNING   PORTION. 

Was  not  Jesus,  in  all  that  high  work,  the  servant  of  Jehovah  ? 
Though  he  was  in  the  form  of  God,  and  with  him  it  was  no 
robbery  to  be  equal  with  God,  yet  he  made  himself  of  no  re- 
putation, and  took  upon  him  the  form  of  a  servant.  And  for 
whom  did  he  this  ?  Was  it  not,  in  effect,  saying,  like  the 
Jewish  servant  which  was  typical  of  him,  "  1  love  my  Master, 
my  Father,  in  the  work  of  redemption  ?"  John  xiv.  31. — "  I 
love  my  wife,  my  church,  my  spouse."  Song  iv.  10. — "  I  love 
my  children  :  behold  I  and  the  children  whom  thou  hast 
given  me."  Isaiah  viii.  18. — "  I  will  not  go  out  free."  Oh  ! 
precious  Lord  Jesus  !  well  might  the  Apostle  say,  "  Hus- 
bands, love  your  wives,  even  as  Christ  loved  the  Church, 
and  gave  himself  for  it."  Surely  it  was  thy  love,  dearest 
Lord  !  to  thy  Church,  that  moved  thee  to  serve  Jehovah,  as 
Israel  served  for  a  wife  ;  and  for  a  wife  kept  sheep.  Hosea  xii. 
12.    Oh !  for  grace  to  love  thee,  and  to  serve  thee  for  ever  ! 

30. — That  in  the  ages  to  come  he  might  show  the  exceeding  riches  of 
his  grace,  in  his  kindness  towards  us,  through  Christ  Jesus. — Eph.  ii.  7. 

Pause,  my  soul,  and  gather  in  all  the  powers  of  arithme- 
tic, and  try  if  thou  art  able  to  count  what  the  exceeding 
riches  of  God's  grace  amount  to.  Think  how  great,  how 
free,  how  sovereign,  how  inexhaustible,  how  everlasting ! 
All  that  a  poor  sinner  hath  in  time,  all  that  we  can  enjoy  to 
all  eternity,  all  is  of  grace.  And  what  a  title  hath  thy  God 
chosen  to  be  known  by  among  his  people,  when,  to  make 
himself  known  more  fully  in  Jesus,  he  stiles  himself  the 
God  of  all  grace !  All  grace  ?  Yes  ;  all  grace,  and  all 
sorts  and  degrees  of  grace :  pardoning  grace,  renewing 
grace,  quickening  grace,  strengthening  grace,  comforting 
grace ;  in  short,  all  grace.  And  is  all  this  treasured  up  in 
Jesus  ?  Oh !  then,  my  soul,  see  that  Jesus  be  thine,  and  all 
is  thine.  And  mark  this  down  as  a  sure  unerring  rule — as 
grace  hath  no  source  but  in  the  Father's  love,  so  the  exalting 
that  grace,  in  Jesus,  is  the  Father's  design  in  salvation.  The 
brightest  pearl  in  the  Redeemer's  crown,  is  that  which  shines 
with  this  inscription :  "  To  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  his 
grace,  wherein  he  hath  made  us  accepted  in  the  Beloved." 
Here,  my  soul,  seek  thy  daily  grace,  more  earnest  than  thy 
daily  bread. 

31. — What  think  ye  that  he  will  not  come  to  the  feast  ? — John  xi.  56. 

Is  this  thy  inquiry,  my  soul,  when,  at  any  time,  thou  art 
seeking  Jesus  in  his  word,  in  his  ordinances,  at  his  table? 


FEBRUARY.  25 

Will  he  not  come  ?  Will  Jesus  not  be  there  ?  Think  how 
he  hath  dealt  in  times  past.  Did  not  Jesus  rejoice,  when  the 
hour  arrived  for  coming  into  the  world  for  salvation  ?  Doth 
he  not  rejoice,  when  coming  to  the  heart  of  the  poor  sinner 
for  conversion  ?  And  will  he  not  come  with  joy,  in  all  the 
renewed  visits  of  his  love  1  Besides — doth  not  Jesus  know 
that  it  is  a  time  of  need  to  thee  ?  And  hath  he  not  opened  a 
way  to  the  throne  of  grace,  on  purpose  that  his  poor  helpless 
children  might  come  boldly  to  a  throne  of  grace  to  obtain 
help,  and  find  grace,  in  every  time  of  need  ?  Oh !  then,  mark 
it  down  as  a  sure  thing,  thy  Jesus  will  be  there.  He  spreads 
the  feast,  and  he  will  be  present.  He  waits  to  be  gracious  j 
waits  to  be  kind  to  thee.  Love  is  in  his  heart,  and  salvation 
in  his  hands.  Hasten  then  to  his  house,  to  his  table,  to  his 
bosom,  to  his  heart ;  and  say  with  the  Church,  "  Come,  my 
Beloved,  and  be  thou  like  a  roe,  or  a  young  heart,  upon  the 
mountains  of  Bether." 


FEBRUARY. 


1.— ^And  they  shall  call  his  name  Emmanuel ;  which,  being  interpreted, 
is,  God  with  Ms.—Matt.  i.  23. 

My  soul !  hast  thou  never  remarked  what  a  peculiar  beauty 
and  sweetness  there  is  in  every  name  by  which  thy  God  and 
Saviour  is  made  known  to  thee  in  his  holy  word  ?  Surely, 
if  nothing  more  had  been  intended  by  it,  than  to  identify  and 
prove  his  sacred  Person,  one  name  would  have  answered  this 
purpose  :  evidently,  therefore,  somewhat  of  great  importance 
is  designed  from  his  many  names.  And  depend  upon  it,  my 
soul,  so  much  loveliness  is  there  in  every  individual  name  of 
thy  Jesus  :  and  at  one  time  or  other,  in  thy  walk  of  faith,  so 
very  much  wilt  thou  need  every  one,  and  find  the  precious- 
ness  of  every  one,  that  thou  wouldest  not  part  with  one  of  thy 
Redeemer's  names — no,  not  for  the  world.  This  of  Emma- 
nuel, by  which  thou  art  commanded  to  call  him,  is  a  sweet 
one  to  endear  him  to  thee.  Had  he  not  been  Emmanuel,  he 
could  not  have  been  Jesus  ;  for  none  but  God  can  save  a  sin- 
ner. And  therefore  he  is  called  Emmanuel,  which  signifies, 
God  with  us.  Hence  therefore  he  is  God.  Put  this  down, 
as  a  glorious  truth,  in  thy  esteem.    God  in  our  nature.    God 

3 


26  MORNING   PORTION. 

tabernacling-  in  our  flesh.  God  in  us  ;  and  God  in  our  hearts, 
the  hope  of  glory.     It  is  the  Godhead  of  thy  Jesus   which 

fives  efficacy  and  value  to  every  act  of  redemption.  As  God, 
is  righteousness  is  the  righteousness  of  God  to  justify  thee. 
Mark  that!  His  sacrifice  to  atone — His  blood  to  cleanse — 
His  grace  to  bless.  All  these  blessed  acts  of  thy  Jesus  derive 
efficacy  to  answer  all  their  glorious  purposes,  because  they 
are  the  acts  of  God.  And  remark,  my  soul,  yet  further,  that 
all  that  yet  remains  to  be  fulfilled,  in  what  he  hath  promised 
concerning  salvation  ;  in  now  pleading  thy  cause,  and  here- 
after taking  thee  to  glory:  these  cannot  fail — because  He 
who  hath  promised  is  Emmanuel.  Go  on,  my  soul,  one  step 
further,  and  remember  that  He,  whom  thou  art  to  call  Em- 
manuel, is  also  God  in  thy  nature.  Hence  he  is  so  very  near 
and  dear,  in  all  tender  alliances,  as  to  be  bone  of  thy  bone, 
and  flesh  of  thy  flesh.  My  soul !  never,  never  lose  sight  of 
this  most  sweet  and  precious  name  of  thy  Jesus.  Call  him, 
as  thou  art  commanded,  call  his  name  Emmanuel. 

2. — Seest  thou  this  woman  ? — Luke  xvii.  44. 

My  soul !  lo(ik  at  this  woman  at  the  feet  of  Jesus  ;  for  thy 
Jesus  bids  thee  look,  and  gather  instruction  from  the  view  as 
well  as  the  Pharisee.  Behold  how  she  wept,  how  she  washed 
the  feet  of  Jesus,  and  anointed  them  with  ointment.  These  were 
sweet  tokens  of  her  love  and  adoration.  But  were  these 
the  causes  for  which  she  obtained  forgiveness?  Oh!  no. 
Read  what  the  Lord  said  to  her : — "  Thy  faith  hath  saved 
thee."  Learn  then,  my  soul,  in  what  salvation  lies.  Love 
may  bring  ointment  to  Jesus.  Sorrow  for  sin,  when  grace  is 
in  the  heart,  will  cause  tears  to  fall.  But  faith  brings  nothing ; 
for  it  hath  nothing.  It  casts  itself  wholly  upon  Jesus.  Amidst 
all  its  guilt,  and  fears,  and  tears,  it  is  Jesus  only  to  whom 
faith  looks.  It  is  Jesus  upon  whom  alone  it  depends.  It  hath 
nothing  to  do  with  self;  neither  our  own  feelings,  nor  the  ex- 
ercise of  our  graces.  These  are  blessed  evidences  of  the 
work  of  the  Lord  upon  the  heart:  but  they  are  not  salvation. 
It  is  Jesus,  all  precious,  all  glorious,  all  suitable  Jesus  !  He 
is  the  one  blessed  object  of  faith's  joy,  and  hope,  and  pursuit, 
and  desire.  And  depend  upon  it,  thy  God  and  Father  in 
Christ  Jesus  is  more  pleased,  more  honoured  by  this  simple 
act  of  faith  upon  Jesus'  glorious  person  and  righteousness, 
than  by  all  the  tears  in  the  world  ;  when  those  tears  lead  us 
to  place  a  stress  upon  the  effects  of  faith,  instead  of  hanging 
wholly  upon  the  cause^  in  the  glorious  object,  Jesus.     Pause, 


FEBRUARY.  27 

my  soul,  over  this  nice  but  proper  distinction  ;  and  this  will 
be  to  find  comfort  always  in  Jesus.  "  Seest  thou  this  wo- 
man?" 

3. — Who  loved  me,  and  gave  himself  for  me. — Gal.  ii.  20. 

See,  my  soul,  how  Paul  is  for  ever  using  Jesus,  and  feast- 
ing for  ever  upon  him.  Oh !  seek  grace  to  do  the  same.  He 
saith  Jesus  loved  him.  Jesus  the  Son  of  God  loved  Paul. 
Now  love,  from  any  object,  is  valuable  ;  but  from  the  first, 
and  best,  and  greatest  of  all  Beings,  what  invaluable  love  is 
this  ?  And  who  did  Christ  love  ?  "  Why  me,"  saith  Paul ; 
"  who  was  a  blasphemer,  a  persecutor,  and  injurious."  And 
how  do  you  know,  Paul,  that  Jesus  loved  j^ou  7  "  He  gave 
himself  for  me,"  saith  Paul.  Gave  himself?  Yes!  him- 
self Not  his  gifts  only,  not  his  grace,  not  his  mercies, 
though  all  creation  is  his.  And  whatever  he  gave  must 
have  been  an  undeserved  mercy ;  for  I  merited  hell,  when 
he  bestowed  upon  me  heaven.  "  But  even  heaven,  with  all 
its  glories,  is  nothing,"  saith  Paul,  "  to  what  Jesus  gave  me ; 
for  he  gave  himself  for  me."  Oh !  my  soul,  wilt  thou  not 
look  up,  wilt  thou  not  be  encouraged  to  hope,  to  believe,  to 
hang  upon  Jesus,  for  the  same.  Oh !  for  faith  to  believe. 
Precious  Jesus !  thou  Author  and  Finisher  of  faith,  grant 
me  this  mercy.  And  while  1  read  these  sweet  words  con- 
cerning thee,  who  loved  and  who  gave  thyself  for  poor  lost 
sinners,  oh  !  like  Paul,  and  with  the  same  assurance  of  faith, 
cause  me  to  add — me,  me  ;  Jesus  loved  me,  and  gave  himself 
for  me. 

4. — The   Comforter   that  should   relieve  my  soul  is   far  from   me. — 
Lament,  i.  16. 

Whence  is  it,  my  soul,  that  those  distressing  thoughts  arise  ? 
Pause  and  inquire.  Is  the  Holy  Ghost  the  Comforter  in- 
deed withdrawn,  when  Jesus,  thy  Jesus,  sweetly  and  gra- 
ciously promised  that  he  should  abide  for  ever  ?  This  can- 
not be.  Is  the  righteousness  of  Jesus  less ;  or  hath  his 
blood,  to  atone  and  cleanse,  lost  its  efficacy  ?  Oh  !  no.  Je- 
sus' righteousness,  and  Jesus'  all-atoning  propitiation,  like 
the  Almighty  Author  of  both,  must  be  eternally  and  everlast- 
ingly the  same :  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  for  ever.  Hath 
God  thy  Father  forgotten  to  be  gracious  ?  Oh  !  no.  God 
thy  Father  proclaimed  from  heaven,  that  he  is  well  pleased 
for  his  dear  Son's  righteousness'  sake.  And  never,  never 
shall  a  word  gone  out  of  the  Lord's  mouth  be  altered.  From 


S8  MORNING   PORTION. 

whence  then,  my  soul,  is  thy  leanness,  thy  fears  and  despon- 
dency? Canst  thou  not  discover?  Ohl  yes.  It  is  ail  in 
thyself,  and  thy  unbelieving-  frame.  Thou  art  looking  to  thy- 
self, and  not  to  all-precious  Jesus !  Thou  wantest  to  feel 
some  new  frame  of  thy  own  ;  some  meUing  of  heart,  or  the 
like.  And  if  thou  couldest  be  gratified  in  this,  then  thou 
wouldest  go  to  Jesus  with  confidence ;  and  there  plead,  as 
thou  thinkest,  Jesus'  name,  and  blood,  and  righteousness,  for 
acceptance.  And  doth  the  want  of  these  feelings  keep  thee 
back  ?  Oh  !  fie,  my  soul,  is  this  thy  love,  thy  kindness,  to  thy 
friend  ?  Can  any  thing  be  more  plain,  than  that  thou  art 
making  a  part  Saviour  of  thy  feelings,  and  not  a  whole  Sa- 
viour of  thy  Jesus  ?  No  wonder  thou  criest  out,  the  Com- 
forter is  far  from  thee.  For  the  Holy  Ghost  will  teach  thee, 
that  all  comfort  is  only  in  Jesus.  And  mark  this,  my  soul, 
for  all  future  occasions  : — If  thou  wilt  seek  comfort  in  any- 
thing out  of  Jesus,  though  it  be  in  the  sweetest  frames, 
as  thou  mayest  think,  of  thine — Jesus,  in  mercy  and  love, 
will  put  thy  comforts  out  of  thy  reach.  Oh !  then  come  to 
Jesus  poor  and  needy,  with,  or  without  frames.  Make  him 
all  and  in  all;  and  He  will  be  thy  joy,  thy  comfort,  and  thy 
portion  for  ever. 

5. — In  the  hand  of  a  Mediator. — Gal.  iii.  19. 

The  hand  of  a  mediator  was  the  great  blessing  every  en- 
lightened son  of  Adam,  from  the  fall,  sighed  after,  and  looked 
for,  in  every  approach  to  God.  Hence  the  first  transgressor, 
for  the  want  of  it  hid  himself  from  the  presence  of  God,  amidst 
the  trees  of  the  garden.  Hence  Israel  cried  out  to  Moses, 
"  Go  thou  near,  and  hear  all  that  the  Lord  our  God  shall 
say  ;  but  let  not  God  speak  with  us,  lest  we  die.  And  Job 
longed  for  a  Daysman  (that  is)  a  Mediator,  that  might  lay 
his  hand  on  both  parties.  See  then,  my  soul,  thy  privileges  ; 
for  thou  hast  a  Mediator,  and  a  glorious  one  indeed,  in  whose 
mighty  hand  all  thy  concerns  are  eternally  secured.  "  Ye 
are  come,"  saith  the  Apostle :  he  doth  not  say  ye  are  com- 
ing ;  but,  ye  are  come,  "  to  Jesus  the  Mediator  of  the  new 
Covenant,  and  to  the  blood  of  sprinkling."  Oh  !  then^  in  all 
thy  approaches,  have  an  eye  to  Jesus.  Put  all  thy  affairs  in 
this  glorious  Mediator's  hand.  Remember  he  wears  thy  na- 
ture, pleads  thy  cause,  takes  up  all  thy  concerns,  and  ever 
liveth  to  make  intercession  for  sinners  ;  and  therefore  cast  all 
thy  care  upon  him ;  for  he  careth  for  thee.  And  look  to  this 
one  grand  thing — -that  all  thy  confidence  and  all  thy  joy  ari- 


FEBRUARY.  29 

seth  wholly  from  Jesus' s  person  and  righteousness  ;  not  from 
any  supposed  graces,  tears,  repentance — nor  even  from  faith 
itself,  if  viewed  as  an  act  of  thine.  Cast  aside,  as  filthy  rags, 
all  that  is  thine ;  and  never,  no  not  for  a  moment,  look  at  any 
thing  as  a  procuring  cause ;  but  let  Jesus  have  all  thy  confi- 
dence, all  the  glory,  and  thou  wilt  have  all  the  comfort. 
Though  Satan  accuse,  though  conscience  pleads  guilty,  God's 
broken  law  pronounceth  condemnation,  and  justice  demands 
the  penahy ;  Jesus  hath  answered  all,  and  is  in  the  throne  to 
see  the  issue.  Oh !  the  blessedness  of  having  all  in  the  hands 
of  a  Mediator. 

6. — The  rich  shall  not  give  more,  and  the  poor  shall  not  give  less,  than 
half  a  shekel,  when  they  give  an  offering  unto  the  Lord,  to  maike 
an  atonement  for  your  souls. — Exod.  xxx.  15. 

Pause,  my  soul,  over  this  Scripture,  and  mark  the  gra- 
ciousness  of*  thy  God  and  Father  in  the  blessed  truth  con- 
veyed in  it.  What,  were  all  the  souls  of  the  redeemed 
charged  equally  alike  in  the  account  of  God  ?  Did  God  thy 
Father  rate  them  thus  ?  And  did  Jesus,  thy  precious  Jesus ! 
purchase  all  his  redeemed  with  an  equal  price,  when  he 
bought  them  with  his  blood  ?  If  this  be  so,  my  soul,  it  must 
follow,  that  thou,  a  poor  unworthy  creature  as  thou  art,  over- 
looked as  thou  art  by  the  great  ones  of  the  earth,  and  too 
frequently  overlooking  in  thyself  how  precious  every  re- 
deemed soul  must  be  in  Jesus'  sight,  cost  as  much  to  Jesus 
as  the  soul  of  Peter  or  of  Paul,  or  any  of  the  patriarchs, 
apostles  or  prophets.  Oh !  think  of  this ;  write  it  down  on 
the  tablets  of  thy  remembrance.  Will  not  this  tend  to  endear 
Jesus  yet  more  to  thee,  and  bring  home  thy  Father's  love  in 
the  strongest  affection  ?  Add  one  thought  more  to  this  pre- 
cious relation.  If,  to  Jesus,  thy  redemption  cost  as  much  as 
any  one  of  the  redeemed  in  glory,  think,  my  soul,  after  such 
a  purchase,  such  a  price,  will  he  lose  his  property  ?  wiU  he 
forego  what  cost  him  so  dear,  and  suffer  one  pearl  of  his 
mediatorial  crown  to  be  wanting?  Add  another  sweet 
thought,  my  soul,  to  this  delightful  meditation.  If,  amidst 
the  various  inequalities  of  Ufe,  some  poor  and  some  rich,  yet 
whatever  difference  was  allowed  or  even  expected  in  other 
offerings,  according  to  the  abilities  of  God's  people;  yet 
here,  as  a  representation  of  the  offering  of  the  soul  in  Jesus' 
purchase,  no  one  distinction  was  to  be  made ;  is  it  not  plain 
that  the  redemption  by  Jesus  is  in  him,  and  him  only ;  and 
his  righteousness  unto  all,  and  upon  all,  that  believe ;  for 

3* 


30  MORNING  PORTION. 

there  is  no  difference  ?  Dearest  Lord !  may  my  soul  never 
lose  sight  of  this  blessed  equality.  Here  thou  art  indeed,  no 
respecter  of  persons. 

7— Behold  the  Lamb  of  God  I— John  i.  36. 

Who  is  it  calls  upon  thee,  my  soul,  to  this  most  gratifying 
and  enriching  of  all  employments  ?  Is  it  not  God  the  Holy 
Ghost,  by  the  ministry  of  his  servant  John  1  And  doth  not 
God  thy  Father  do  the  same,  by  the  ministry  of  his  servant 
Isaiah,  when  he  bids  thee  behold  Him,  in  whom  his  soul  de- 
lighteth?  And  is  not  Jesus  himself  calling,  again  and  again, 
in  the  ministry  of  his  word  and  ordinances,  upon  thy  poor 
forgetful  heart,  when  he  saith,  "  Behold  me !  behold  me ! 
Look  unto  me,  and  be  ye  saved !"  And  wilt  thou  not  obey 
the  sweet  and  gracious  calls,  on  which  all  thy  present  peace 
and  everlasting  happiness  depend  ?  Precious,  precious  Jesus ! 
Yes,  my  Lord !  I  would,  methinks,  so  look  unto  thee,  and 
so  behold  thee,  until  my  whole  heart,  and  all  its  affections, 
followed  my  eyes,  and  left  not  a  thought  behind  for  a  single 
object  beside  thee.  I  would  eye  thee,  thou  dear  Redeemer, 
as  the  Lamb  of  God  \  both  where  thou  once  wast,  and  where 
thou  now  art,  and  follow  thee  whithersoever  thou  goest !  I 
would  behold  thee,  as  the  Lamb  of  God,  set  up  in  the  decrees 
of  eternity,  from  everlasting ;  for  thou  art  the  Lamb  slain 
from  the  foundation  of  the  world  I  would  behold  thee,  set 
forth  in  all  the  representations  of  thy  redeeming  blood,  in  the 
innumerable  sacrifices  of  the  law,  and  in  the  Lamb  of  the 
morning,  and  the  Lamb  of  the  evening,  through  the  inter- 
mediate ages,  to  thy  coming.  I  would  behold  thee,  oh  !  thou 
unequalled  pattern  of  excelling  meekness  !  when,  in  the  days  of 
thy  flesh,  thou  walkedst  through  the  streets  of  Jerusalem  ;  and 
when,  as  a  Lamb,  thou  wert  led  to  the  slaughter.  I  would  eye 
thee,  oh !  thou  Lamb  of  God  !  until  my  eye-strings  could  hold 
no  longer,  when  as  the  lamb  of  God,  and  my  soul's  surety,  thou 
didst  hang  upon  the  tree,  putting  away  sin,  and  satisfying 
divine  justice,  by  the  sacrifice  of  thyself  And  never  would 
I  take  off  my  eyes  from  thy  cross,  until  called  by  thee  to  be- 
hold thee  as  the  Lamb  in  the  midst  of  the  throne,  where 
thou  art  feeding  thy  church  above,  and  dispensing  blessings 
to  all  thy  church  below.  Yes,  yes,  blessed  triumphant  Lamb 
of  God !  thou  art  the  Lamb  still.  Change  of  place  hath 
made  no  change  in  thy  nature,  or  thy  love,  or  the  efficacy  of 
thy  redemption.  Thou  still  appearest  as  a  Lamb  that  has 
been  slain.     And  still  thou  bear  est  on  thy  glorified  body,  the 


FEBRUARY.  31 

marks  of  thy  redemption.  Shall  I  not  behold  thee,  then, 
dearest  Jesus?  Shall  I  not  unceasingly  behold  thee,  thus 
called  upon  by  the  Father,  Son.  and  Spirit ;  and  thus  finding 
every  thing  that  can  satisfy  my  most  unbounded  desires,  for 
time  and  for  eternity  ?  Help  me,  blessed  Jesus  !  so  to  look, 
and  so  to  Vive  upon  thee ;  and  oh  !  do  thou  behold  me,  and 
bid  me  live,  and  make  me  thine  own  for  ever. 

8. — Who  shall  lay  any  thing  to  the  charge  of  God's  elect  ?  It  is  God 
that  justifieth.  Who  is  he  that  conderaneth  ?  It  is  Christ  that  died ; 
yea,  rather,  that  is  risen  again :  who  is  even  at  the  right  hand  of 
God,  who  also  maketh  intercession  for  us. — Romans  viii.  33,  34. 

See,  my  soul,  what  a  blessed  security  thou  hast.  Here  is 
God  justifying  ;  Christ  dying ;  the  Holy  Ghost  raising  the 
sinner's  surety  from  the  grave,  as  an  evidence  that  the  debt 
of  sin  is  cancelled  ;  and  Jesus  ever  living  to  see  the  travail 
of  his  soul  and  be  satisfied  in  the  redemption  of  his  people. 
What,  then,  shall  rob  thee  of  thy  comfort,  while  thou  art  tri- 
umphing in  thy  Jesus  7  Sin  shall  not,  for  Jesus  hath  put  it 
away  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself  The  law  cannot  ;  for  thy 
Jtsus  hath  answered  all  its  just  demands.  Divine  justice 
cannot ;  for  God  himself  justifieth.  Death  and  hell  cannot ; 
for  Jesus  hath  conquered  both.  In  short,  all  that  stood  in  thy 
way,  the  Son  of  God  hath  removed.  And  wilt  thou  not,  my 
soul,  triumph  in  the  great  salvation  of  thy  Jesus  ?  Surely 
the  poor  debtor  may  walk  as  boldly  before  the  prison  door, 
as  the  king  in  his  palace,  when  his  debts  are  paid.  No 
bailiff  can  touch  him;  no  mittimus  again  confine  him.  If 
the  Son  shall  make  you  free,  you  shall  be  free  indeed.  Tri- 
umph then,  my  soul !  in  the  liberty  wherewith  thy  Jesus 
hath  made  thee  free  ;  only  be  sure  that  all  thy  triumphs  are 
in  him.  Let  him  have  all  the  glory  who  hath  wrought  the 
whole  redemption.  Make  thy  Jesus  all ;  for  he  hath  done 
all  for  thee ;  and  then  sweetly  repose  thyself  upon  the  person 
and  work  of  thy  Beloved.  Let  the  adversary  accuse,  or 
opposition  arise  from  without  or  within,  yet,  saith  an  apostle, 
here  is  the  answer: — "God  justifieth;  for  Christ  died." 
Oh !  how  precious  it  is,  after  all  the  storms,  and  winds,  and 
boisterous  tossings,  of  law  and  conscience,  to  enter  into  that 
harbour  which  is  Jesus.  "  We,  which  have  believed,"  saith 
the  apostle,  "  do  enter  into  rest."  He  is  indeed  the  rest, 
wherewith  he  causeth  the  weary  to  rest ;  and  he  is  the  re- 
freshing. 


39  MORNING  PORTION. 

9. — ^The  Lamb  that  is  in  the  midst  of  the  tlirone  shall  feed  them. — 
Rev.  vii.  17. 

My  soul !  thou  hast  not  forgotten  what  thou  wert  so  lately 
engaged  in,  a  day  or  two  since,  at  the  call  of  God  the  Holy 
Ghost,  to  behold  the  Lamb  of  God.  And  art  thou  not  still 
looking  at  him,  gazing  upon  him,  feasting  thine  eyes,  thine 
heart,  all  thy  affections  upon  him,  and  following  him,  in  the 
sweet  contemplation,  from  his  cross  to  his  crown  ?  Come 
then,  my  soul,  harp  again  and  again  upon  this  blessed  string; 
for  sure  it  is  most  blessed.  And  remember,  my  soul,  as  thou 
lookest,  thy  Jesus  is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne — that  is,  the 
very  centre  of  it.  In  Him  dwelleth  all  the  fulness  of  the 
Godhead  bodily.  For  what  is  the  Lamb  of  God,  but  God 
revealing  himself  in  him,  to  thee,  my  soul,  and  all  his 
people  ?  And  remember,  also,  that  the  throne  in  the  midst 
of  which  thy  Jesus  is,  in  Scripture  is  called  the  throne  of 
God  and  the  Lamb,  on  purpose  to  show  thee  that  it  is  one 
and  the  same.  And  what  is  that  throne,  my  soul,  but  a 
throne  of  grace ;  a  mercy-seat,  a  place  for  the  poor  and  the 
needy  to  approach,  to  obtain  mercy,  and  find  grace  to  help  in 
time  of  need  ?  Flee  to  it,  my  soul !  haste !  stay  not :  and 
remember,  as  Jesus  is  in  the  midst  of  it,  it  is  accessible  every 
way,  and  all  around.  The  poor  timid  believer,  that  fears  to 
go  in  front,  may,  like  the  woman  in  the  gospel,  who  came 
behind,  touch  but  Jesus'  garment :  efficacy  from  the  Lamb 
is  in  every  direction.  If  Jesus  was  not  there,  it  might  be 
alarming  to  approach ;  but,  remember,  the  Lamb  is  there — 
and  he  is  the  Lamb  of  God.  Sweet  encouraging  thought ! 
Come  then,  my  soul,  look  to  the  Lamb.  See,  iDy  faith,  how 
he  feeds  the  church  which  is  above.  And  will  he  not  feed 
the  church  below?  Oh!  yes.  His  flesh  is  meat  indeed, 
and  his  blood  is  drink  indeed.  He  is  the  heavenly  Pelican, 
that  feeds  his  young  with  his  blood.  And  oh !  what  spi- 
ritual food,  what  divine  food,  what  suitable  food,  what  soul- 
satisfying,  soul-ravishing,  soul-strengthening  food  !  Precious 
Lamb  of  God  !  every  thing  in  thee  is  food.  Feed  my  hun- 
gry soul,  oh  thou  that  art  in  the  midst  of  the  throne,  and 
send  me  not  empty  away. 

10. — Unto  you,  therefore,  which  believe,  he  is  precious. — 1  Pet.  ii.  7. 

My  soul !  art  thou  anxious  to  know  whether  thou  art  a 
true  believer  in  Jesus  1  Try  it,  then,  by  this  mark,  which 
the  Holy  Ghost  hath  given  by  his  servant  the  Apostle.     Do 


FEBRUARY.  H^  83 

you  believe  in  Jesus  for  life  and  salvation  ?  Yes,  truly  ;  if  so 
be  he  is  precious.  Look  at  him,  then.  1.  Is  Jesus  precious 
in  his  person,  precious  in  his  work,  precious  in  his  offices, 
precious  in  his  relations,  precious  in  his  whole  character  ? 
2.  Do  you  know  him  so  as  to  love  him,  to  live  to  him,  to  re- 
joice in  him,  and  to  cast  your  whole  soul  upon  him,  for  life 
and  salvation  ?  3.  Do  you  accept  him  as  the  Father's  gift, 
the  Sent,  the  Sealed,  the  Anointed,  the  Christ,  of  the  Father? 
Is  he  so  precious  that  there  is  nothing  in  him  but  what  you 
love — nothing  that  you  would  part  with  ?  His  cross  is  dear, 
as  well  as  his  crown  ?  Afflictions  with  Jpsus  sweeter  than 
prosperity  without  him  ?  Pause  over  these  questions.  Re- 
collect that  there  is  nothing  out  of  Jesus  that  can  be  truly  sat- 
isfying. Thy  dearest  earthly  friend,  however  sweet,  hath 
yet  some  tinge,  some  alloy,  of  what  is  not  sweet.  But  there 
is  no  mixture  in  thy  Jesus  :  all  is  pure,  and  lovely,  and  trans- 
cendently  glorious.  He  is,  as  one  of  old  described  him,  a 
sea  of  sweetness,  without  a  single  drop  of  gall.  And  now, 
my  soul,  what  sayest  thou  concerning  Jesus  ?  Is  he  precious 
to  thee  under  all  these,  and  a  thousand  more  distinguishing 
excellencies  ?  Say,  if  Jesus  were  to  be  bought,  wouldest 
thou  not  sell  all  thou  hast  to  buy?  Were  he  to  be  sold, 
wouldest  thou  not  rather  lose  thy  life  than  part  with  him  ? 
Surely,  then,  he  must  be  precious  to  thee :  and  as  such,  thou 
art  a  believer :  for  the  Apostle  has  commanded  us  to  say, 
that  unto  them  which  believe,  he  is  precious.  Take  comfort 
then,  my  soul ;  He  that  is  precious  now,  will  be  so  for  ever. 
Yes,  precious  Lord  !  there  is  none  in  heaven,  or  earth,  I  de- 
sire beside  thee ! 

11. — Let  mine  outcasts  dwell  with  thee,  Moab  :  be  thou  a  covert  to  them 
from  the  face  of  the  spoiler. — Isaiah  xvi.  4. 

When  a  man's  ways  please  the  Lord,  he  maketh  even  his 
enemies  to  be  at  peace  with  him.  Moab  was  the  sworn  foe 
of  Israel ;  but  yet  Moab  shall  be  overruled  to  shelter  and 
feed  Israel.  The  world,  like  Moab,  dislikes  God's  people : 
but  as  God's  people  must  sojourn  in  the  world,  until  the  time 
comes  for  God  to  take  them  home,  they  shall  be  taken  care 
of  "  Let  mine  outcasts  dwell  with  thee,  Moab  ;"  house  them 
as  travellers  in  an  inn.  See  that  they  have  a  lodging.  Let 
their  bread  be  given,  and  their  water  sure.  "  They  are 
poor  ;  but  they  are  rny  poor,  saith  our  God.  "  They  are 
outcasts  ;  but  they  are  mine  outcasts."  Oh  !  precious  Jesus  ! 
I  see  thou  wilt  still  own  thy  people.     And  wherefore  is  it, 


34  xMORNING   PORTION. 

dearest  Lord  ?  Not  for  their  worth,  not  for  their  deservings, 
not  for  their  adherence  to  thee  ;  but  because  thou  hast  loved 
them ;  because  the  Father  hath  given  them  to  thee,  and  thou 
hast  purchased  their  persons,  redeemed  them,  and  washed 
them,  and  made  them  thine.  Grant,  dearest  Lord  !  that 
though  we  are  constrained  to  dwell  with  Mesech,  and  to 
have  our  habitation  among  the  tents  of  Kedar ;  though  we 
are  made  as  the  filth  of  the  earth,  and  the  offscouring  of  all 
things — yet  never,  never  may  we  forget  our  relationship  to 
thee  !  Though  outcasts,  yet  Jesus'  outcasts.  Be  thou,  Lord, 
our  hiding  place,  our  covert,  in  the  midst  of  Moab ;  and  so 
shall  we  be  free  from  every  spoiler  :  thou  wilt  be  to  us  all  we 
need — rivers  of  water  in  a  dry  place,  and  as  the  shadow  of  a 
great  rock  in  a  weary  land. 

12. — And  the  Lord  shut  him  in. — Gen.  vii.  16. 

It  was  a  sweet  invitation  to  the  patriarch  Noah,  when  the 
Lord  called  him  to  the  ark.  Jehovah  did  not  say,  Go  thou 
into  the  ark ;  but  ''  Come."  So  saith  Jesus  to  his  people : 
"  Come  with  me,  from  Lebanon,  my  spouse ;  with  me,  from 
Lebanon."  Yes,  precious  Jesus  !  to  be  with  thee  is  heaA'-en  ; 
for  thou  thyself  art  the  heaven  of  the  soul.  But  observe  fur- 
ther, my  soul :  when  Noah  had  entered  the  ark,  what  kept 
him  there  ?  "  The  Lord  shut  him  in."  Yes  !  neither  bolts 
nor  bars  were  his  security  ;  but  God  himself,  in  his  covenant 
engagements,  kept  him.  The  Patriarch  could  no  more  get 
out,  than  the  unbelieving  carnal  throng  (who,  perhaps,  hung 
about  the  ark  when  they  saw  the  flood  arise,  and  felt  its 
power)  could  get  in.  Precious  Jesus  !  and  what  is  it  keeps 
thy  people  now  ?  Is  it  not  thyself?  Are  not  thy  redeemed 
eternally  secure  in  thee,  and  thy  blood  and  righteousness,  as 
Noah  in  the  ark  ?  Yes  !  thou  who  hast  the  key  of  all  things ; 
thou  openest,  and  none  shutteth  ;  thou  shuttest,  and  none 
openeth.  In  thee  my  soul  is  kept  secure;  for  the  Lord  Je- 
hovah hath  shut  me  in  ;  and  I  shall  ride  out  all  the  storms 
and  floods  of  sin  and  Satan,  and  Noah-like,  rise  above  the 
fountains  of  the  greatest  deeps,  being  shut  in  in  the  ark  Christ 
Jesus. 

13. — Clirist  has  redeemed  us  from  the  curse  of  the  law,  being  made  a 
curse  for  us. — Gal.  iii.  13. 

Pause,  my  soul,  and  contemplate  the  unspeakable  mercies 
contained  in  those  precious  words  !  However  little  thou  hast 
regarded  them,  yet  they  contain  in  their  bosom  the  whole 


FEBRUARY.  35 

t 

blessings  of  the  gospel.  It  is  to  Jesus,  in  this  one  glorious 
act  of  his  faith,  should  the  sinner  be  continually  looking. 
There,  (the  believer  should  say,)  there  hangs  my  hope,  my 
joy,  my  confidence.  Christ  hath  redeemed  me  from  the 
curse  of  the  law,  being  made  a  curse  for  me.  Now,  my  soul, 
observe  how  Jesus  accomplished  this  great  mercy  for  thee. 
Whatever  Christ  redeemed  the  sinner  from,  he  became  that 
for  him.  In  the  act  of  redemption,  by  substituting  himself  in 
the  sinner's  place  and  room,  he  redeemed  him  from  that  place 
and  room,  by  standing  there  himself  Hence,  as  the  sinner 
stood  before  God,  accursed  by  reason  of  sin ;  so  Christ,  by 
taking  the  sinner's  sin  upon  himself,  and  standing  in  his 
stead  to  answer  for  it,  was  made  a  curse  also.  If,  therefore, 
Christ  will  come  under  the  law  for  sinners,  that  law  will 
have  as  much  to  demand  of  him,  as  of  sinners.  If  Jesus, 
from  his  boundless  love  and  mercy,  will  take  the  sinner's 
curse  upon  himself,  the  law  will  speak  as  harsh  to  him  as  the 
sinner  that  is  under  the  curse;  and  not  only  speak,  but  exact 
from  him  all  that  could  be  demanded  from  the  sinner.  Pause, 
my  soul !  And  did  Jesus,  thy  Jesus,  thus  stand,  thus  be  con- 
sidered ;  and  was  he  made  a  curse  for  thee  1  Did  he  really, 
truly,  suffer  the  cursed  sinner's  punishment,  and  die,  the  just 
for  the  unjust,  to  bring  sinners  unto  God  ?  Look  to  it  then, 
my  soul ;  he  hath  bought  thee  out,  paid  the  full  ransom,  and 
taken  away  both  sin,  and  the  curse  of  sin,  by  the  sacrifice  of 
himself.  Shout,  my  soul !  shout  salvation  to  God  and  the 
Lamb !  Say,  as  Paul,  "  Christ  hath  redeemed  us  from  the 
curse  of  the  law,  being  made  a  curse  for  us." 

14. — For  where  two  or  tliree  are  gathered  together  m  ray  name,  there 
am  I  in  the  midst  of  them. — Matt,  xviii.  20. 

What  an  encouraging  declaration  is  this  of  our  Jesus,  to 
prompt  the  faithful  to  meet  together  on  the  Lord's  Day ;  or, 
in  short,  any  day,  at  all  times,  and  all  places.  Observe,  my 
soul,  how  sweet  the  Lord  speaks  : — '■  There  am  I  in  the 
midst  of  my  people  ;  not  by  my  word  only,  not  as  represented 
in  ordinances,  not  by  the  ministry  of  my  servants,  but  I  my- 
self spiritually.  The  calls,  the  motions  of  grace  felt  in  the 
heart,  the  tender  tokens,  the  manifestations  of  my  suitable- 
ness, fulness,  all-sufficiency  ;  these  are  all  truly  mine,  which, 
by  the  influences  of  my  Spirit,  I  communicate  among  you." 
Oh  !  precious,  condescending  Lord  !  now  we  see  what  it  is 
that  constitutes  a  true  gospel  church — even  thy  presence. 
Thou  art  the  beauty  and  glory  of  it ;  and  from  thee  alone  all 


$f  MORNING    PORTION. 

power  and  efficacy  is  derived.  Thy  churches  are,  indeed,  as 
thou  hast  taught,  the  golden  candlesticks  ;  and  thy  ministers 
are  as  stars  in  thy  right  hand.  But  the  candlesticks  have  no 
light,  until  thou,  by  thy  presence,  enlighten  them;  neither  do  thy 
servants,  the  ministers,  hold  forth  the  light  of  thy  word  pro- 
fitably, until  thou  openest  the  heart,  as  thou  didst  poor  Lydia's, 
to  receive  the  things  delivered  to  the  salvation  of  the  soul. 
Ye  ministers  of  my  God  !  draw  all  your  comfort  and  encou- 
ragement, amidst  all  the  difficulties  you  meet  with,  both  from 
within  and  without,  in  your  sacred  service,  from  this  sweet 
assurance  of  Jesus.  Whenever  you  go  up  to  the  assemblies 
of  God's  people,  hear  the  footsteps  of  your  Master  behind 
you.  And  ye  who  pant  after  sweet  fellowship  and  commu- 
nion with  Jesus,  seek  it  by  the  footsteps  of  the  flock,  beside 
the  shepherd's  tents,  where  Jesus  feeds  his  sheep.  Who 
would  be  absent  from  that  blessed  place  where  Jesus  comes 
to  bless  1  And  oh  !  what  encouragement  to  the  faithful  to 
bring  with  them  their  unawakened  friends  and  relations,  to 
the  assemblies  which  Jesus  honours  with  his  presence. 
Surely  He,  who  wrought  salvation  in  our  hearts,  can  work 
the  same  in  theirs.  No  wonder,  when  such  mercies  Jesus 
brings  with  him  to  his  people,  that  the  heart  of  David  fainted  to 
go  up  to  the  house  of  the  Lord,  that  he  might  see  the  power 
and  glory  of  Jesus,  as  he  had  seen  it  in  the  sanctuary. 

15. — ^With  purpose  of  heart  they  would  cleave  unto  the  Lord.  Acts  xi.  23. 

My  soul !  art  thou  cleaving  to  thy  Jesus  ?  It  is  a  grand 
thing  so  to  do;  and  it  must  be  from  continued  supplies  of 
grace,  in  Jesus,  if  thou  art  really  doing  it.  A  few  points 
will  show.  Is  Jesus  thy  all  ?  Is  he  uppermost  in  all  things  ? 
Faith  has  for  its  one  object  Jesus.  Let  a  true  believer  be 
wheresoever  he  may — at  home,  or  abroad  ;  alone,  or  in  com- 
pany ;  the  closet,  or  the  church — it  is  all  the  same,  if  he 
really,  truly,  cleaves  to  the  Lord  with  purpose  of  heart ; 
there  is  a  looking  unto  Jesus  for  all  things,  and  in  all  things. 
Again,  if  I  cleave  to  the  Lord,  I  shall  do  no  one  thing  but 
in  his  strength,  and  deliberately  desire  nothing  but  for  his 
glory.  The  graces  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  implanted  in  the  souls 
of  the  faithful,  are  fed  and  kept  alive,  and  brought  forth  into 
exercise,  by  the  communications  of  Jesus.  My  joy  then  is  in 
Jesus  ;  not  in  myself,  not  in  what  I  feel.  These  feelings  of 
mine  may  languish  ;  but  while  I  cleave  to  the  Lord,  my  spi- 
ritual joy  will  always  be  the  same.  "  From  me,"  saith  that 
sweet  Lord,  "  from  me  is  thy.  fruit  found !"     Once  more — If 


FEBRUARY.  37 

I  cleave  unto  Jesus,  shall  I  not  find  an  increasing  love  for 
him,  an  increasing  desire  for  him,  and  an  increasing  commu- 
nion with  him,  from  increasing  knowledge  of  him,  and  of 
his  love  and  preciousness  7  To  be  sure  I  shall.  Well  then, 
my  soul,  art  thou  indeed  cleaving  to  him  1  Think  how  pre- 
cious Jesus  was,  when  first  thou  wast  brought  so  savingly- 
acquainted  with  him  as  to  see  thy  need  of  him,  and  his  suit- 
ableness and  disposition  to  save  thee.  Dost  thou  think  of 
these  blessings  less  now  ?  Oh !  no.  You  love  him  more, 
because  you  know  your  need  of  him  more,  and  therefore 
cleave  to  him  the  closer.  Lastly,  to  add  no  more — Doth  my 
soul  truly  cleave  to  Jesus  ?  Why,  then,  I  am  loosening  more 
and  more  from  every  thing  beside.  If  Jesus  hath  my  whole 
heart,  then  is  the  world  and  all  creature  idols  thrown  down. 
One  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  portion  enough  for  a  whole  ran- 
somed church  of  God  to  live  upon  to  all  eternity.  In  him 
there  is  portion  enough  for  me.  Oh !  then,  precious  Lamb 
of  God  !   be  thou  my  portion ;  for  in  thee  I  have  all  things. 

16. — Help,  Lord!  for  the  godly  man  ceaseth  ;  for  the  faithful  fail  from 
among  the  children  of  men. — Psalm  xii.  1. 

My  soul !  art  thou  sometimes  distressed  in  the  recollection 
of  the  languishing  state  of  Zion  ?  Are  faithful  men,  faithful 
ministers  taken  away  from  the  evil  to  come  ?  And  dost  thou 
sometimes  at  a  mercy  seat,  feel  thyself  drawn  out  in  fervent 
prayer,  that  the  Lord  would  fill  up  the  vacancies  he  is  mak- 
ing by  death,  and  raise  up  pastors  after  his  own  heart,  and 
believers  who  love  Zion,  to  supply  their  place?  Take  com- 
fort, my  soul ;  thy  Jesus  loves  Zion  ;  and  she  is  still  engraven 
on  the  palms  of  his  hands,  and  her  walls  are  continually  be- 
fore him.  Jesus  must  have  a  church  in  the  earth  as  long  as 
the  sun  and  moon  endureth.  Remember  the  reins  of  gov- 
ernment are  in  Jesus'  hands  ;  and  however  the  enemies 
of  Zion,  like  wild  horses,  would  ride  over  the  children  of 
Zion,  Jesus  puts  his  bridle  in  their  jaws,  and  will  turn  them 
back  by  the  way  they  came.  Remember,  also,  that  the  care 
of  the  church  is  with  Jesus.  He  saith  himself  concerning 
it ;  "I  the  Lord  do  keep  it.  I  will  water  it  every  moment : 
lest  any  hurt  it,  I  will  keep  it  night  and  day."  Blessed 
Jesus !  I  would  say  then,  Zion  is,  and  must  be,  safe.  Die 
who  may,  Jesus  lives  ;  and  to  his  church  he  saith,  "  Because 
I  live,  ye  shall  live  also."  Here  then  is  enough  for  me,  for 
the  church,  and  for  every  child  of  God.  -My  seed,  saith 
Jesus,  shall  serve  him.     Hallelujah. 

3 


38  MORNING    PORTION. 

17. — Knowing  that  whilst  we  are  at  home  in  the  body,  we  are  absent 
from  the  Lord  ;  we  are  confident,  I  say,  and  willing  rather  to  be  ab- 
sent from  the  body,  and  to  be  present  with  the  Lord. — 2  Cor.  v.  6,  8. 

My  soul !  is  this  thy  real  language  ?  Pause.  Whilst 
thou  art  at  home  in  the  body,  how  dark  and  dim,  how  few 
and  short  are  all  the  glimpses  thou  hast  by  faith  of  Jesus. 
What  from  the  workings  of  corruption,  the  claims  of  the 
body,  the  concerns  of  the  world,  and  the  numberless,  name- 
less, obstructions  which  surround  thee,  how  little  dost  thou 
know  of  Jesus.  And  wouldest  thou  desire  for  ever  to  live  at 
this  distance  ?  Think  what  the  first  view  only  of  Jesus  will 
be,  when  thou  art  once  absent  from  the  body,  and  present 
with  the  Lord !  What  holy  transports  will  break  in  upon 
the  soul,  when  all  the  lines  of  love  meet  in  one  centre,  to 
manifest  the  Lord  Jesus  to  thy  view  in  his  redeeming  fulness ! 
If  here  below  a  single  hour's  enjoyment  of  thy  Jesus, 
through  the  medium  of  his  word  or  ordinances,  be  so  pre- 
cious that  no  felicity  on  earth  can  equal,  what  must  a  whole 
eternity  be,  in  the  full  uninterrupted  vision  of  God  and  the 
Lamb?  If,  through  the  influences  of  thy  blessed  Spirit, 
dearest  Jesus  !  the  tear  of  joy,  and  love,  and  praise,  will  here 
fall  in  the  contemplation  of  thy  person  and  work,  surely  all 
the  flood-gates  of  the  soul  will  open  when  I  see  thee  as  thou 
art,  and  come  to  dwell  with  thee  for  ever.  Oh !  for  grace, 
then,  to  long  for  that  blessed  hour,  when,  absent  from  the 
body,  I  shall  be  present  with  the  Lord  ;  when  I  shall  behold 
thy  face  in  righteousness,  and  shall  be  satisfied  when  I  awake 
with  thy  likeness. 

18. — And  I  will  make  an  everlasting  covenant  with  them,  that  I  will 
not  turn  away  from  them  to  do  them  good  ;  but  I  will  put  my  feJir 
in  their  hearts,  that  they  shall  not  depart  from  me. — Jeremiah  xxxii.  40. 

Precious  consideration  to  a  poor  exercised  soul,  that  a  Co- 
venant God  in  Christ,  hath  not  only  engaged  for  himself,  but 
undertaken  for  his  people  also.  God  will  not ;  and  his  people 
shall  not.  My  soul !  take  a  short  view  of  the  foundation  of 
this  precious,  precious  promise.  It  is  God's  everlasting  love, 
everlasting  grace,  everlasting  covenant.  And  remember,  the 
Author  of  it  is  not  changeable  as  thou  art.  With  Him  is  no 
variableness,  neither  shadow  of  turning.  Moreover,  it  is 
purchased  by  the  blood,  sealed  in  the  blood,  and  made  eter- 
nally firm  and  sure  in  the  blood  and  righteousness  of  Christ ; 
the  everlasting  efficacy  of  which  is  as  eternal  as  the  Author 
of  it.     Neither  is  th;s  all.     There  is  an  union  with  the  Per 


FEBRUARY.  S9 

son  of  thy  Jesus.  The  head  without  a  body  would  be  incom- 
plete ;  and,  united  to  his  Person,  the  believer  is  interested  in 
all  his  graces,  fulness,  suitableness,  all-sufficiency :  so  that 
this  preserves  grace  from  perishing,  because  it  is  an  everlast- 
ing spring.  And  Jesus  lives  to  see  it  all  complete.  His  in- 
tercession answers  every  want,  and  supplies  every  necessity. 
Neither  is  this  all  ;  for  God  the  Holy  Ghost  sets  to  his  seal 
in  the  heart,  that  God  is  true.  His  quickening,  convincing, 
converting,  manifesting  grace,  in  the  soul,  in  taking  of  the 
things  of  Jesus,  and  showing  to  the  heart,  becomes  an  earnest 
and  pledge  in  assurance  ;  and  all  tending  to  confirm,  that 
God  will  not,  and  his  redeemed  ones  shall  not,  turn  away, 
but  his  covenant  remain  everlasting. 

19. — The  prisoner  of  Jesus  Christ. — Epkes.  iii.  1. 

My  soul !  art  thou  a  prisoner  of  Jesus  Christ  ?  See  to  it, 
if  so,  that,  like  the  Apostle,  thou  art  bound  with  Jesus'  chains 
for  the  hope  of  Israel.  They  are  golden  chains.  When 
Paul  and  Silas  were  fast  bound  in  the  prison,  the  conscious- 
ness of  this  made  them  sing  for  joy.  Men  have  their  prisons, 
and  God  hath  his.  But  here  lies  the  vast  difference :  no 
bars  or  gates,  among  the  closest  prisons  of  men,  can  shut 
God  out  from  comforting  his  prisoners  ;  and,  on  the  contrary, 
nothing  can  come  in  to  afflict  Jesus'  prisoners,  when  he 
keeps  them  by  the  sovereignty  of  his  grace,  and  love,  and 
power.  Blessed  Lord  !  look  upon  thy  poor  prisoner ;  and 
come  in,  dear  Lord :  with  thy  wonderful  condescension,  and 
do  as  thou  hast  said :  sup  with  him,  and  cause  him  to  sup 
with  thee. 

20. — I  will  say  luito  God,  do  not  condemn  me  ;  show  me  wherefore  thou 
contendest  with  me. — Job  x.  2. 

My  soul !  art  thou  at  any  time  exercised  with  any  trying 
dispensations  ?  Doth  thy  God,  thy  Jesus,  seem  to  hide  his 
face  from  thee?  Are  his  providences  afflicting?  Art  thou 
brought  under  bereaving  visitations  ?  Is  thy  earthly  taber- 
nacle shaken  by  sickness  ?  Are  the  pins  of  it  loosening  ? 
Are  thy  worldly  circumstances  pinching?  Is  prayer  re- 
strained? Oh !  refer  thy  state,  my  soul,  be  it  what  it  may, 
to  Jesus.  Tell  thy  Lord,  that,  of  all  things,  thy  greatest 
dread  and  fear  is,  lest  thou  shouldest  be  mistaken  concerning 
his  love  to  thee.  Say,  as  Job  did,  "Show  me  wherefore 
thou  contendest  with  me."  There  is  an  Achan  in  the  heart. 
Thy  Jesus  doth  not  withdraw  for  nothing.     Love  is  in  his 


40  MORNING   PORTION. 

lips.  Salvation  fills  the  whole  soul  of  Jesus.  Fly  to  him, 
then,  my  soul !  Say  to  him,  Lord,  make  me  what  thou 
wouldest  have  me  to  be.  Oh!  for  a  word,  a  whisper,  of 
Jesus.  I  cannot  live  without  it.  I  dare  not  let  thee  go,  ex- 
cept thou  bless  me.  Not  all  the  past  enjoyments,  experi- 
ences, manifestations,  will  do  me  good,  until  thou  again  shine 
in  upon  my  soul.  Oh  !  come  then.  Lord,  Jesus  !  I  fly  to  thee 
as  my  God,  my  Saviour,  my  portion,  my  all.  Never,  surely, 
wilt  thou  say  to  the  praying  seed  of  Jacob,  Seek  ye  my  face 
in  vain. 

21. — Saw  ye  him  whom  my  soul  loveth  ? — Song  iii.  3. 

Is  Jesus  still  the  object  of  my  soul's  warmest  affection ;  the 
subject  of  all  my  thoughts,  all  my  discourse,  all  my  inquiry? 
Oh !  yes,  my  soul ;  whom  else,  m  heaven  or  in  earth,  wilt 
thou  seek  after  but  him  !  Tell  me,  ye  ministers  of  Jesus,  ye 
watchmen  upon  the  walls  of  Zion,  "  saw  ye  him  whom  my 
soul  loveth?"  Ye  followers  of  the  Lamb,  can  ye  show  me 
where  Jesus  feedeth  his  flock  at  noon  ?  Or  rather,  ye  in  the 
upper  regions,  where  the  Son  of  God  manifesteth  himself  in 
the  full  glories  of  his  Person ;  ye  spirits  of  just  men  made 
perfect,  ye  who  have  known,  while  sojourning  here  below, 
what  feeling  of  the  soul  that  is,  which,  in  the  absence  of 
Jesus,  is  longing  for  his  appearance ;  ye  angels  of  light  also, 
ye  who  see  him  without  an  intervening  medium — tell  him,  I 
beseech  you,  how  my  soul  panteth  for  his  visits :  tell  him  that 
a  poor  pensioner,  well  known  to  my  Lord,  is  waiting  his 
morning  alms  :  nay,  tell  him  that  I  am  sick  of  love,  longing 
for  a  renewed  view  of  his  Person,  his  pardoning  love,  the 
renewals  of  his  grace.  Jesus  knoweth  it  all  before  you  tell 
him,  and  he  will  send  his  gifts  and  mercies — nay,  he  will 
come  himself;  for  he  hath  assured  me  of  this  :  he  hath  said, 
"  If  a  man  love  me,  my  Father  will  love  him,  and  we  will 
come  and  make  our  abode  with  him."  Behold,  my  soul,  thy 
Jesus  is  come  !  I  hear  his  well-known  voice  :  he  saith,  "  I 
am  come  into  my  garden.  Now  will  I  hold  him  and  not  let 
him  go.  and  pray  him  not  to  be  as  a  wayfaring  man  that 
turneth  in  to  tarry  for  a  night,  but  abide  with  me  until  the 
breaking  of  the  everlasting  day." 

22.— Where  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is,  there  is  liberty.— 2  Cor.  iii.  17. 

What  liberty,  my  soul,  art  thou  brought  into  by  thine 
adoption  into  the  family  of  God  in  Christ  ?  Not  from  the 
assaults  of  sin ;  for  thou  still  carriest  about  with  thee  a  body 


FEBRUARY.  41 

of  sin  under  which  thou  groanest.  Not  from  the  temptations 
of  Satan  ;  for  he  is  still  levelling  at  thee  many  a  fiery  dart. 
Not  from  outward  troubles ;  for  the  world  thou  art  still  in, 
and  find  est  it  a  wilderness  state.  Not  from  inward  fears  ;  for 
thine  unbelief  begets  many.  Not  from  the  chastisement  of 
thy  wise  and  kind  Father  ;  for  then  many  a  sweet  visit  of 
his  love,  under  the  rod,  would  be  unknown.  Not  from  death ; 
for  the  stroke  of  it  thou  must  one  day  feel ;  though,  blessed 
be  Jesus,  he  hath  taken  out  the  sting  in  his  blood  and  righ- 
teousness. What  liberty  then  is  it,  my  soul,  thou  enjoyest  ? 
What  hath  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord,  as  a  spirit  of  revelation 
discovering  to  thee  the  glory  of  Jesus,  and  thy  interest  in 
him,  brought  thee  into  ?  Oh  !  who  shall  write  down  the 
vast,  the  extensive  account  of  thy  freedom  7  Say,  my  soul, 
hath  not  the  sight  of  God's  glory  in  Christ  freed  thee  from 
the  curse  of  the  law,  from  the  guilt  of  the  law,  from  the  do- 
minion of  sin,  from  the  power  of  Satan,  from  the  evil  of  un- 
belief in  thine  own  heart,  from  the  terrors  of  justice,  from  the 
alarms  of  conscience,  from  the  second  death  ?  Say,  my  soul, 
doth  not  the  sight  of  Jesus  dying  for  thee,  rising  for  thee, 
pleading  for  thee,  enlarge  thy  heart  and  loose  thy  bonds,  and 
shake  oflf  all  thy  fetters  and  all  thy  fears  ?  Doth  not  Jesus 
in  the  throne  give  thee  liberty  to  come  to  him,  to  call  upon 
him,  to  unbosom  thyself  unto  him,  to  tell  him  all  thy  wants, 
all  thy  necessities,  and  to  lean  upon  his  kind  arm  in  every 
hour  of  need  1  Shout,  my  soul !  and  echo  to  the  Apostle's 
words,  "  Where  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  is,  there  is  liberty :''  lib- 
erty to  approach,  liberty  to  plead,  liberty  to  pray,  liberty  to  praise 
and  to  adore  the  whole  Persons  of  the  Godhead,  for  having 
opened  the  prison-doors,  and  given  thee  freedom  in  Christ  Je^us. 

23. — Hath  a  nation  changed  their  gods,  which  are  yet  no  gods  ?  But 
my  people  have  changed  their  glory  for  that  which  doth  not  profit. 
Jeremiah  ii.  11. 

Pause,  my  soul,  over  these  words !  Was  it  ever  known 
that  any  nation  changed  their  dunghill  gods  for  others  ?  Such 
regard  had  they  for  whatever  ignorance  had  set  up,  that  the 
veneration  never  after  ceased.  But  Israel,  above  every  other 
nation  of  the  earth,  manifested  folly,  and  even  exceeded  the 
most  senseless  and  stupid  of  men.  My  soul !  dost  thou  not 
in  Israel's  folly  behold  thy  own  ?  Was  there  ever  one,  when 
the  Lord  first  called  thee,  less  deserving !  A  transgressor, 
as  the  Lord  knew  thee,  from  the  womb !  and  yet  this  did  not 
prevent  the  Lord  from  calling  thee.     He  loved  thee  because 

4* 


42  MORNING   PORTION. 

he  would  love  thee :  gave  thee  his  Christ ;  gave  thee  his 
Holy  Spirit;  gave  thee  the  name,  the  privilege,  the  adop- 
tion, of  a  son.  What  returns  hast  thou  made  ?  How  often 
since  hath  thy  backslidings,  thy  coldness,  thy  departures, 
been  like  Israel?  What  vanity,  what  pursuit,  what  unpro- 
fitable employment,  hath  not  at  times  been  preferred  to  thy 
God  ?  Oh  !  how  do  I  see  my  daily,  hourly,  continual  need 
of  thee  !  thou  art  the  hope  of  Israel  and  the  Saviour  thereof. 
Keep  me,  Lord,  near  thyself;  for  without  thee  I  am  nothing ! 

24. — He  that  had  gathered  much,  had  nothing  over  ;  and  he  that  had 
gathered  little  had  no  lack. — 2  Cor.  viii.  15. 

My  soul !  here  is  a  delightful  morsel  for  thee  to  feed  upon 
this  morning.  Thou  art  come  out  to  gather  thy  daily  food 
as  Israel  did  in  the  wilderness.  Faith  had  no  hoards.  Thou 
wantest  Jesus  now  as  much  as  thou  didst  yesterday.  Well 
then,  look  at  what  is  here  said  of  Israel.  They  went  out  to 
gather — what  1  Why  the  morning  bread  :  God's  gift.  Such 
is  Jesus,  the  bread  of  God,  the  bread  of  life.  And  as  Israel 
would  have  been  satisfied  with  nothing  short  of  this,  so 
neither  be  thou.  And  as  Israel  was  never  disappointed,  so 
neither  wilt  thou,  if  thou  seek  it  in  faith  as  Israel  did.  And 
observe,  they  that  gathered  most  had  not"hing  over ;  so  he 
that  gathered  least  had  no  lack.  Yes,  my  soul !  no  follower 
of  Jesus  can  have  too  much  of  Jesus :  nothing  more  than  he 
wants — nothing  to  spare.  So  the  poorest  child  of  God,  that 
hath  the  least  of  Jesus,  can  never  want.  The  very  touch  of 
his  garment,  the  very  crumb  from  his  table,  is  his,  and  is 
precious.  Dearest  Lord !  give  me  a  large  portion,  even  a 
Bertjamin's  portion.  But  even  a  look  of  thy  love  is  heaven 
to  my  soul. 

25. — Who  of  God  is  made  unto  us  wisdom,  and  righteousness,  sanctifi- 
cation,  and  redemption. — 1  Cor.  i.  30. 

What  a  sweet  subject  for  my  morning  meditation  is  here ! 
Who  is  it,  my  soul,  is  made  of  God  to  thee  these  precious 
things,  but  Jesus  1  And  mark  how  they  are  made  so  ! — I 
am  a  poor  ignorant  creature,  grossly  ignorant  by  reason  of 
the  fall.  I  knew  not  my  lost  estate,  much  less  the  way  of 
recovery.  Here  Jesus  became  to  me  wisdom.  By  his  illu- 
minating the  darkness  of  my  mind,  he  led  me  to  see  my  ruin 
and  my  misery.  But  this  would  never  have  brought  me  out 
of  it ;  for  though  I  saw  my  lost  estate,  yet  still  I  had  no  con- 
sciousness by  what  means  I  could  be  recovered.     Here  again 


FEBRUARY.  43 

Jesus  came  to  my  aid,  and  taught  me,  that  as  I  needed  righ- 
teousness, he  would  be  my  righteousness,  and  undertake  for 
me  to  God.  But  even  after  this  was  done,  I  felt  my  soul  still 
the  subject  of  sin ;  and  how  to  subdue  a  single  sin  I  knew 
not.  Here  Jesus  came  again,  and  gave  me  to  see,  that  as  he 
was  wisdom  to  cure  my  ignorance,  and  righteousness  to  an- 
swer for  my  guilt,  so  he  would  be  my  sanctification  also ; 
purging,  as  well  as  pardoning  and  renewing,  by  his  Spirit, 
my  poor  nature,  when  he  had  removed  the  guilt  of  it.  Still 
I  sighed  for  complete  deliverance,  and  to  make  my  happiness 
sure  ;  and  therefore  Jesus  came  again,  that,  by  his  full  re- 
demption from  all  the  evils  of  the  fall,  I  might  be  made  free  ; 
and  therefore  he  became  the  whole  together — wisdom,  righ- 
teousness, sanctification,  and  redemption.  And  to  stamp  and 
seal  the  whole  with  the  impression  of  God  my  Father,  all 
that  Jesus  did  he  did  by  God's  gracious  appointment ;  for  he 
was  made  of  God  to  me  all  these,  that  all  my  glorying  might 
be  in  the  Lord.  See  to  it,  my  soul,  then,  that  this  be  all  thy 
glory. 

26. — As  for  me,  I  will  behold  thy  face  in  righteousness.     I  shall  be 
satisfied  when  I  awake  with  thy  likeness. — Psalm,  xv'n.  15 

Is  it  refreshing  to  thee  now,  my  soul,  the  least  glimpse  of 
Jesus'  face  ;  the  smallest  manifestation  of  the  glories  of  his 
Person  and  of  his  work  ;  and  the  very  sound  of  his  voice,  in 
his  word  or  ordinances  ?  Think,  then,  what  will  be  thy  fe- 
licity in  that  morning  of  the  eternal  world,  when,  dropping 
thy  veil  of  flesh.  He,  whom  thou  seest  now  by  faith  only,  will 
then  appear  as  open  to  thee  as  to  the  church  above  in  glory ! 
Pause,  my  soul,  over  the  vast  thought !  What  will  be  thy 
first  sight  of  Jesus  ?  What  will  be  thy  feelings,  when,  with- 
out any  intervening  medium,  thou  shalt  see  him  face  to  face, 
and  know  even  as  thou  art  known  ?  Precious  Lamb  of  God  ! 
grant  me  grace  to  feel  the  blessedness  of  this  first  interview. 
Appearing,  as  I  trust  I  shall,  in  thine  own  garments,  and  the 
robes  of  thy  righteousness,  and  which  thou  hast  not  only  pro- 
vided for  me,  but  put  on,  what  will  be  the  burstings  forth  of 
my  heart,  in  the  full  view  of  the  glories  of.  thy  Person,  and 
the  perfection  of  thy  righteousness  ?  Surely,  Lord,  when  I 
thus  behold  thy  face  in  righteousness,  I  shall  be  so  fully  satis- 
fied, that  the  rest  after  which  my  poor  soul,  through  a  whole 
life  of  grace,  since  thou  wert  pleased  to  quicken  me,  hath 
been  pursuing,  will  pursue  no  more.  My  immortal  faculties 
will  seek  i  •>  more — will  need  no  more.     In  thee,  the  whole 


4^  MORNING    PORTION. 

is  attained.  In  thee,  I  shall  eternally  rest.  Thou  art  the 
everlasting  centre  of  all  happiness,  glory,  and  joy.  I  shall 
be  so  fully  satisfied  when  I  awake  to  this  view,  that  here,  in 
thee,  I  shall  be  at  home.  And  what  is  more,  it  will  be  an 
everlasting  duration,  not  only  in  happiness,  but  in  likeness. 
And  as  the  coldest  iron,  put  into  the  fire,  partakes  of  the  pro- 
perties of  the  fire,  until  it  becomes  altogether  heated  and  fiery 
like  it,  so  in  thee,  and  with  thee,  thou  blessed  Jesus  !  cold  as 
my  soul  now  is,  I  shall  be  warmed  with  thy  love  ;  and  from 
thee,  and  thy  likeness  imparted,  become  lovely  from  thy  love- 
liness, and  glorious  from  thy  glory !  Precious,  precious  Je- 
sus !  is  the  hour  near  ?  Are  thy  chariot  wheels  approach- 
ing? Dost  thou  say,  "Behold,  I  come  quickly?"  Oh!  for 
grace  to  answer — Even  so  come.  Lord  Jesus. 

27. — He  will  be  very  gracious  unto  thee,  at  the  voice  of  thy  cry  ;  when 
he  shall  hear  it,  he  will  answer  thee. — Isaiah  xxx.  19. 

Mark,  my  soul,  what  is  here  said ;  for  every  word  in  this 
sweet  Scripture  tells.  Thy  God,  thy  Saviour,  thy  Jesus, 
knows  thy  voice,  hears  thy  cry,  and  will  assuredly  answer. 
He  will  not  only  be  gracious,  but  veiy  gracious.  He  waits 
to  be  gracious :  waits  the  most  suited  time,  the  best  time,  the 
praying  time,  the  crying  time ;  for  he  times  his  grace,  his 
mercy,  to  thy  need.  And  though  thou  knowest  it  not,  yet  so 
it  is :  when  his  time  is  near  at  hand,  which  is  always  the  best 
time,  he  puts  a  cry  in  thine  heart ;  so  that  the  time  of  thy 
cry,  and  the  time  for  the  manifestation  of  his  glory,  shall 
come  together.  Is  not  this  to  be  gracious — yea,  very  gracious. 
So  that  while  thou  art  looking  after  him,  he  is  looking  upon 
thee.  And  before  thou  callest  upon  him,  he  is  coming  forth 
to  bless  thee.  Is  not  this  very  gracious  ?  Now  then,  my 
soul,  make  a  memorandum  of  this  for  any  occasions  which 
may  hereafter  occur.  Put  it  down  as  a  sure  unerring  truth : 
— thy  Jesus  will  be  very  gracious  unto  thee.  Never  allow 
this  promise  to  be  called  in  question  any  more.  Next,  bring 
it  constantly  into  use.  Faith,  well-grounded  faith  in  Jesus, 
should  always  bring  down  general  rules  to  particular  cases 
and  circumstances,  as  the  soul's  experience  may  require. 
Hence,  when  God  saith  he  will  be  very  gracious  unto  thee, 
it  is  the  act  of  faith  to  answer — If  God  hath  said  it,  so  it  shall 
certainly  be.  And  therefore,  as  that  gracious  God,  who 
giveth  the  promise,  giveth  also  the  grace  of  faith  to  depend 
upon  the  promise,  the  mercy  is  already  done,  and  faith  enters 


FEBRUARY.      ^  46 

upon  the  enjoyment  of  it.     God's  faithfulness  and  truth  be- 
come the  believer's  shield  and  buckler. 

28. — Leaning  on  Jesus'  bosom. — John  xiii.  23. 

Methtnks  I  would  contemplate  for  a  while  the  privilege 
of  this  highly-favoured  disciple  John !  Surely  to  sit  at  the 
feet  of  Jesus,  to  look  up  at  his  face,  to  behold  the  Lamb  of 
God,  and  to  hear  the  gracious  words  which  proceeded  out  of 
his  mouth,  what  should  I  have  thought  of  this  but  a  happi- 
ness unspeakable  and  full  of  glory?  But  the  beloved  Apos- 
tle leaned  on  Jesus'  bosom !  Oh  !  thou  condescending  Sa- 
viour !  Didst  thou  mean  to  manifest,  by  this  endearing  token, 
how  dear  and  precious  all  thy  redeemed  ones  are  in  thy 
esteem  ?  But  stop,  my  soul !  If  John  lay  on  Jesus'  breast, 
where  was  it  Jesus  himself  lay,  when  he  left  all  for  thy  sal- 
vation? The  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved  lay  upon  Jesus' 
bosom  ;  but  He  whom  the  Father  loved,  lay  in  the  bosom  of 
the  Father — nay,  was  embosomed  there ;  was  wrapt  up  in 
the  very  soul  of  the  Father  from  eternity.  Who  shall  under- 
take to  speak  of  the  most  glorious  state  of  the  Son  of  God,  be- 
fore he  condescended  to  come  forth  from  the  bosom  of  God 
for  the  salvation  of  his  people?  Who  shall  describe  the 
blessedness  of  the  Father  and  the  Son  in  their  mutual  enjoy- 
ment of  each  other  ?  Jesus,  when  he  was  in  the  bosom  of 
the  Father,  had  not  emptied  himself  of  his  glory.  Jesus  had 
not  been  made  in  the  likeness  of  sinful  flesh.  Jesus  had  not 
put  himself  under  the  law.  He  was  not  then  a  man  of  sor- 
rows. He  was  not  then  acquainted  with  grief  He  had  not 
then  exposed  his  face  to  shame  and  spitting  ;  neither  to 
poverty,  temptation,  the  bloody  sweat,  and  the  cross.  And 
did  Jesus  go  through  all  these  and  more  ?  Did  Jesus  leave 
the  Father's  bosom  ;  and  did  the  Father  take  this  only  begot- 
ten, only  beloved  son  from  his  bosom,  that  John  might  lean 
on  Jesus'  bosom ;  and  all  the  redeemed,  like  him,  one  day 
dwell  with  Jesus,  and  lean  and  rest  in  his  embraces  for  ever? 
Oh!  for  hearts  to  love  both  the  Father  and  the  Son,  who 
have  so  loved  us ;  that  we  may  be  ready  to  part  with  all,  and 
forsake  all,  and  die  to  all,  that  we  may  live  in  Jesus  and  to 
Jesus,  and  rest  in  his  bosom  for  ever. 


46  MORNING   PORTION. 

MARCH. 

1. — And  his  name  shall  be  called  Wonderful. — Isaiah  ix.  6. 

In  the  opening-  of  the  last  month,  the  fragrancy  of  Jesus' 
name,  as  Emmanuel,  gave  a  sweet  savour  to  my  soul.  May 
He,  whose  name  is  as  ointment  poured  forth,  give  a  new  re- 
freshment to  my  spiritual  senses  this  morning,  in  this  name 
also  as  Wonderful ;  for  surely  every  thing  of  Him,  and  con- 
cerning Him,  of  whom  the  Prophet  speaks,  is  eminently  so. 
But  who  shall  speak  of  thy  wonders,  dearest  Lord  ! — the 
wonders  of  thy  Godhead,  the  wonders  of  thy  Manhood,  the 
wonders  of  both  natures  united  and  centred  in  one  Person  % 
Who  shall  talk  of  the  wonders  of  thy  work,  the  wonders  of 
thy  offices,  characters,  relations ;  thy  miraculous  birth,  thy 
wonderful  death,  resurrection,  ascension  ?  Who  shall  follow 
thee,  thou  risen  and  exalted  Saviour  at  the  right  hand  of 
power,  and  tell  of  the  exercise  of  thine  everlasting  priest- 
hood ?  Who  shall  speak  of  the  wonders  of  thy  righteous- 
ness, the  wonders  of  thy  sin-atoning  blood?  What  angel 
shall  be  found  competent  to  proclaim  the  wonders  of  the 
Father's  love  in  giving  thee  for  poor  sinners  ?  What  arch- 
angel to  write  down  the  wonders  of  thy  love,  in  undertaking 
and  accomplishing  redemption  ?  And  who  but  God  the 
Spirit  can  manifest  both  in  the  height,  and  depth,  and 
breadth,  and  length,  of  a  love  that  passeth  knowledge  ?  Is 
there,  my  soul,  a  wonder  yet,  that,  as  it  concerns  thee  and 
thine  interest  in  Him,  whose  name  is  Wonderful,  is  still 
more  marvellous  to  thy  view  ?  Yes !  oh  thou  wonderful 
Lord!  for  sure  all  wonders  seem  lost  in  the  contemplation 
compared  to  that,  that  Jesus  should  look  on  me  in  my  lost, 
ruined,  and  undone  estate  ;  for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
Well  might  Jesus  say,  "  Behold,  I  and  the  children  whom 
thou  hast  given  me  are  for  signs  and  wonders."  Isaiah  viii. 
18.  Well  might  the  Lord,  concerning  Jesus  and  his  people, 
declare  them  to  be  as  men  wondered  at.  Zach.  iii.  8.  And 
blessed  Lord,  the  more  love  thou  hast  shown  to  thy  people, 
the  more  are  they  the  world's  wonder  and  their  own.  Pre- 
cious Lord !  continue  to  surprise  my  soul  with  the  tokens  of 
thy  love.  All  the  tendencies  of  thy  grace,  all  the  manifesta- 
tions of  thy  favour,  thy  visits,  thy  love-tokens,  thy  pardons, 
thy  renewings,  thy  mourning  call,  thy  mid-day  feedings,  thy 


MARCH.  47 

noon,  thy  evening,  thy  midnight  grace — all,  all  are  among 
thy  wonderful  ways  of  salvation  ;  and  all  testify  to  my  soul, 
that  thy  name,  as  well  as  thy  work,  is,  and  must  be,  Won- 
derful ! 

2. — For  if  there  be  first  a  willing  mind,  it  is  accepted  according  to  that 
a  maa  hath,  and  not  according  to  that  he  hath  not. — 2  Cor.  viii.  12. 

Sweet  thought  this  comfort  to  the  soul  under  small  attain- 
ments, -'If  there  be  first  a  willing  mind."  Surely  Lord,  thou 
hast  given  me  this  ;  for  thou  hast  made  me  willing  in  the  day 
of  thy  power.  I  feel  as  such,  my  soul  going  forth  in  desires 
after  thee,  as  my  chief  and  only  good  ;  though,  alas !  how 
continually  do  I  fall  short  of  the  enjoyment  of  thee.  I  can 
truly  say,  "  Whom  is  there  in  heaven,  or  upon  earth,  that  I 
desire  in  comparison  of  thee!"  When  thou  art  present,  I 
am  at  once  in  heaven ;  it  makes  a  very  heaven  in  my  soul : 
thou  art  the  God  of  my  exceeding  joy.  When  thou  art 
absent,  my  soul  pines  after  thee.  And,  truly,  I  count  all 
things  but  dung  and  dross  to  win  thee ;  for  whatever  gifts 
thou  hast  graciously  bestowed  upon  me,  in  the  kindness  of 
friends,  in  the  affections  and  charities  of  life,  yet  all  these  are 
secondary  considerations  with  my  soul.  They  are  more  or 
less  lovely,  as  I  see  thy  gracious  hand  in  them ;  but  all  are 
nothing  to  my  Lord.  Is  not  this,  dearest  Jesus !  a  willing 
mind  1  Is  it  not  made  so  in  the  day  of  thy  power  %  But  in 
the  midst  of  this,  though  I  feel  this  rooted  desire  in  me  after 
thee,  yet  how  often  is  my  heart  wandering  from  thee.  Though 
there  is  at  the  bottom  of  my  heart  a  constant  longing  for  thy 
presence,  and  the  sweet  visits  of  thy  love,  yet  through  the 
mass  of  unbelief,  and  the  remains  of  indwelling  corruption 
in  my  nature,  which  are  keeping  down  the  soul,  how  doth 
the  day  pass,  and  how  often  doth  the  enemy  tempt  me  to 
question  my  interest  in  thee.  Dearest  Jesus !  undertake  for 
me.  I  do  cry  out,  "  When  wilt  thou  come  to  me,  though  I 
am  thus  kept  back  from  coming  to  thee?"  When  wilt  thou 
manifest  thyself  to  my  soul,  and  come  over  all  these  moun- 
tains of  sin  and  unbelief,  and  fill  me  with  a  joy  unspeakable 
and  full  of  glory  1  And  doth  Jesus,  indeed,  accept  from  the 
willing  mind  he  hath  himself  given,  according  to  what  a 
man  hath,  and  not  according  to  what  he  hath  not?  Doth  my 
Redeemer  behold  amidst  the  rubbish,  the  spark  of  grace  he 
himself  hath  quickened  ?  Will  he  not  despise  the  day  of 
small  things  ?  No !  he  will  not.  It  was  said  of  thee,  that 
thou  shouidest  not  break  the  bruised  reed,  neither  quench  the 


48  MORNING   PORTION. 

smoking  flax.  Mine,  indeed,  is  no  more.  But  yet  Jesus 
will  bear  up  the  one,  and  kindle  the  other,  until  he  send 
forth  judgment  unto  victory.  Peace  then,  my  soul!  weak  as 
thou  art  in  thyself,  yet  art  thou  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  in  the 
power  of  his  might. 

3. — That  ye  may  be  able  to  comprehend  with  all  saints,  what  is  the 
breadth  and  length,  and  depth,  and  height,  and  to  know  the  love  of 
Christ,  which  passeth  knowledge. — Ephes.  iii.  18,  19. 

Did  Paul  pray  that  the  church  might  be  thus  blessed? 
So  should  all  faithful  pastors.  And  there  is  enough  in  Jesus 
to  call  up  the  everlasting  contemplation  of  his  people.  All 
the  dimensions  of  divine  glory  are  in  Jesus.  Who,  indeed, 
shall  describe  the  extent  of  that  love  which  passeth  know- 
ledge? But,  my  soul,  pause  over  the  account.  What  is  the 
breadth  of  it  ?  Jesus'  death  reaches  in  efficacy  to  all  his 
seed — all  his  children :  to  thee,  my  soul ;  for  thou  art  the 
seed  of  Jesus.  And  though  that  death  took  place  at  Jeru- 
salem near  2,000  years  since,  yet  the  efficacy  of  his  blood, 
as  from  an  high  altar,  as  effectually  washes  away  sin  now, 
as  in  the  moment  it  was  shed.  Remember,  Jesus  still  wears 
the  vesture  dipped  in  blood.  Remember,  Jesus  still  appears 
as  the  Lamb  slain  before  God  !  Indeed,  indeed,  Jesus  was 
the  Lamb  slain  from  the  foundation  of  the  world.  So  that 
in  breadth,  it  is  broader  than  the  sea,  taking  in  all  the  seed  of 
Jesus,  through  all  ages,  all  dispensations,  all  the  various 
orders  of  his  people.  Neither  is  the  length  of  it  less  propor- 
tioned. Who  shall  circumscribe  the  Father's  love,  which  is 
from  everlasting  to  everlasting?  Who  shall  limit  Jesus' 
grace?  Is  he  not  made  of  God  wisdom,  righteousness, 
sanctification,  and  redemption  ?  Is  he  not  all  this,  in  every 
office,  every  character,  every  relation  ?  "  Jesus  Christ ;  the 
same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  for  ever  !"  And  what  is  the 
dejpth  of  this  love,  but  reaching  down  to  hell,  to  lift  up  our 
poor  fallen  nature  !  And  what  is  the  height,  but  Jesus,  in 
our  nature,  exalted  far  above  all  principalities,  and  powers, 
and  might,  and  dominion,  and  every  name  that  is  named,  not 
only  in  this  world,  but  also  in  that  which  is  to  come  ?  Pre- 
cious God  of  my  salvation  !  oh !  give  me  to  see,  to  know,  to 
entertain,  and  cherish,  more  enlarged  views  of  this  love, 
which  hath  no  bottom,  no  bounds,  no  shore ;  but,  like  its  Al- 
mighty Author,  is  from  everlasting  to  everlasting.  Shall  I 
ever  despond  ?  Shall  I  ever  doubt  any  more,  when  this 
Jesus  looks  upon  me,  loves  me,  washes  me  in  his  blood,  feeds 


MARCH.  ^m 

me,  clothes  me,  and  hath  promised  to  bring  me  to  glory  ? 
Oh !  for  faith  to  comprehend,  with  all  saints,  this  love  of 
God,  which  passeth  knowledge. 

4.--H0W  shall  we  sing  the  Lord's  song,  in  a  strange  laud? — Psalm 
cxxxvii.  4. 

Methinks,  my  soul,  this  strange  land  is  the  very  place  to 
sing  the  Lord's  song  in,  though  the  carnal  around  under- 
stand it  not.  Shall  I  hang  my  harp  upon  the  willow,  when 
Jesus  is  my  song,  and  when  he  himself  hath  given  me  so 
much  cause  to  sing?  Begin,  my  soul,  thy  song  of  redemp- 
tion ;  learn  it,  and  let  it  be  sung  upon  earth,  for  sure  enough 
thou  wilt  have  it  to  sing  in  heaven.  Art  thou  at  a  loss  what 
to  sing  ?  Oh  !  no.  Sing  of  the  Father's  mercy,  in  sending 
a  Saviour.  Sing  of  Jesus'  love,  in  not  only  coming,  but  dy- 
ing for  thee.  Are  the  redeemed  above  now  singing,  "  Worthy 
is  the  Lamb  that  was  slain?"  Join  in  the  chorus,  and  tell 
that  dear  Redeemer,  in  the  loudest  notes,  that  he  was  slain, 
and  hath  redeemed  thee  to  God  by  his  blood.  Strike  up  thy 
harp  anew  to  the  glories  of  redeeming  grace,  in  that  he  not 
only  died  for  thee,  but  hath  quickened  thee  to  a  new  and 
spiritual  life.  Add  a  note  more  to  the  Lord's  song,  and  tell 
the  Redeemer,  in  thy  song  of  praise,  that  he  hath  not  only 
died  for  thee,  and  quickened  thee,  but  he  hath  loved  thee,  and 
washed  thee  from  thy  sins  in  his  own  blood.  Go  on  in  thy 
song,  my  soul ;  for  it  is  the  Lord's  song.  Sing  not  only  of 
redeeming  love,  but  marvellous  grace,  for  both  ai-e  connected. 
He  that  redeemed  thee,  hath  all  grace  for  thee.  He  hath 
adopted  thee  into  his  family  ;  hath  made  thee  an  heir  of  God, 
and  a  joint  heir  with  Christ.  He  hath  undertaken  for  thee, 
in  all  troubles,  under  all  difficulties,  to  be  with  thee  at  all 
times  and  all  places,  until  he  brings  thee  home  to  behold  his 
glory,  that  where  he  is,  there  thou  mayest  be  for  ever.  And 
are  not  these  causes  enough  to  keep  thy  harp  always  strung 
— always  in  tune  ?  And  wilt  thou  not  sing  this  song  all  the 
way  through,  and  make  it  the  subject  of  thy  continual  praise 
and  love,  in  the  house  of  thy  pilgrimage  ?  Moreover,  the 
several  properties  of  the  song  are,  in  themselves,  matter  for 
keeping  it  alive  every  day,  and  all  the  day.  Think,  my  soul, 
how  free  was  this  love  of  God  to  thee.  Surely  if  a  man  de- 
served hell  and  found  heaven,  shall  he  not  sing?  If  I  ex- 
pected displeasure,  and  receive  love — if  I  was  brought  low, 
and  one  like  the  Son  of  Man  helped  me,  shall  I  not  say,  as 
one  of  old  did,  "  He  brought  me  out  of  the  horrible  pit,  out 

5 


^  MORNING    PORTION. 

of  the  mire  and  clay;  he  hath  put  a  new  song  in  my  mouth, 
even  thanksgiving  to  our  God  ?"  If  I  think  of  the  greatness 
of  the  mercy,  of  the  riches  of  the  mercy,  of  the  sweetness  of 
the  mercy,  of  the  all-sufficiency  of  the  mercy  ;  of  the  sureness 
and  firmness,  and  everlasting  nature  and  efficacy  of  the 
mercy — can  I  refrain  to  sing  ?  No  ;  blessed,  blessed  Jesus, 
I  will  sing,  and  not  be  afraid  ;  for  the  Lord  Jehovah  is  my 
strength  and  my  song,  and  he  is  become  my  salvation.  I 
will  sing  now,  I  will  sing  for  evermore.  In  this  strange  land, 
in  this  barren  land,  in  this  distant  land  from  my  Father's 
house,  I  will  sing,  and  Jesus  shall  be  my  song.  He  shall  be 
the  Alpha  and  the  Omega  of  my  hymn  ;  and  until  I  come  to 
sing  in  the  louder  and  sweeter  notes  of  heaven,  among  the 
hallelujahs  of  the  blessed,  upon  the  new  harp  and  new- 
stringed  chords  of  my  renewed  soul,  will  I  sing  of  Jesus  and 
his  blood,  Jesus  and  his  righteousness,  Jesus  and  his  complete 
salvation.  And  when  the  last  song  upon  my  trembling  lips, 
with  Jesus'  name  in  full,  shall  be  uttered  ;  as  the  sound  dies 
away,  when  death  seals  up  the  power  of  utterance ;  my  de- 
parting soul  shall  catch  the  parting  breath,  and  as  it  enters 
the  presence  of  the  court  above,  the  first  notes  of  my  everlast- 
ing song  will  go  on  with  the  same  blessed  note  to  Him  that 
hath  loved  me,  and  washed  me  from  my  sins  in  his  own 
blood ! 

5. — Faint,  yet  pursuing. — Judges  viii.  4. 

Surely  what  is  said  here,  concerning  the  little  army  of 
Gideon,  suits  my  case  exactly.  I  know  that  in  Jesus  the  vic- 
tory is  certain  ;  but  I  know  also,  that  I  shall  have  battlings 
all  the  way.  From  the  moment  that  the  Lord  called  me  out 
of  darkness  into  his  marvellous  light,  my  whole  life  hath  been 
but  a  state  of  warfare ;  and  I  feel  what  Paul  felt,  and  groan 
as  he  groaned,  under  a  body  of  sin  and  death;  as  sorrowful, 
yet  rejoicing  ;  as  dying,  but  behold  I  live  ;  as  chastened,  and 
not  killed.  Truly  I  am  faint,  under  the  many  heavy  assaults 
I  have  sustained  ;  and  yet  through  grace,  pursuing  as  if  I 
had  met  with  no  difficulty.  Yes,  blessed  Jesus !  I  know  that 
there  can  be  no  truce  in  this  war;  and  looking  unto  thee,  I 
pray  to  be  found  faithful  unto  death,  that  no  man  may  take 
my  crown  !  But,  dearest  Lord  !  thou  seest  my  day  of  small 
things ;  thou  beholdest  how  faint  I  am.  Thou  seest,  also, 
how  the  enemy  assaults  me,  and  how  the  world  and  the  flesh 
combat  against  me.  While  without  are  fightings,  within  will 
be  fears.     Yet,  dearest,  blessed  Lord :  in  the  Lord  I  have 


MARCH.  1^1 

Strength  ;  and  how  sweet  is  the  thought,  that  though  I  have 
nothing,  though  I  am  nothing,  yet  thou  hast  said,  "  In  me  is 
thy  help."  Thou  hast  said,  "  The  righteous  shall  hold  on 
his  way ;  and  he  that  hath  clean  hands  shall  wax  stronger 
and  stronger."  The  worm  Jacob,  thou  hast  promised,  shall 
thresh  the  mountains.  Write  these  blessed  things,  my  soul, 
upon  the  living  tablets  of  thine  heart,  or  rather  beg  of  God 
the  Holy  Ghost,  the  Remembrancer  of  thy  Jesus,  to  stamp 
them  there  for  ever.  He  giveth  power  to  the  faint;  and  to 
them  which  have  no  might,  he  increaseth  strength.  Even 
the  youths  shall  faint  and  be  weary ;  and  the  young  men 
shall  utterly  fall.  But  they  that  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  re- 
new their  strength :  they  shall  mount  up  with  wings,  as 
eagles  ;  they  shall  run,  and  not  be  weary  ;  and  they  shall 
walk,  and  not  faint. 

6. — And  every  one  that  was  in  distress,  and  everj'  one  that  was  in  debt, 
and  ever}^  one  that  was  discontented,  gathered  ihemselves  unto  him, 
and  he  became  a  Captain  over  them. — 1  Sam.  xxii.  2. 

My  soul,  was  not  this  thy  case  when  thou  first  sought  after 
Jesus'?  Thou  wert,  indeed,  in  debt,  under  an  heavy  load  of 
insolvency.  Distress  and  discontent  sadly  marked  thy  whole 
frame.  Unconscious  where  to  go,  or  to  whom  to  seek,  and 
no  man  cared  for  thy  soul.  Oh !  what  a  precious  thought 
it  was,  and  which  none  but  God  the  Holy  Ghost  could  have 
put  into  thine  heart, — Go  unto  Jesus  !  And  when  I  came, 
and  thou  didst  graciously  condescend  to  be  my  Captain, 
from  that  hour  how  hath  my  soul  been  revived.  My  insol- 
vency thou  hast  taken  away  ;  for  thou  hast  more  than  paid 
the  whole  demands  of  the  law  ;  for  thou  hast  magnified  it  and 
made  it  honourable.  My  distress  under  the  apprehension  of 
divine  justice  thou  hast  removed  ;  for  God's  justice,  by  thee, 
is  not  only  satisfied,  but  glorified.  My  discontent  can  have 
no  further  cause  for  exercise,  since  thou  hast  so  graciously 
provided  for  all  my  wants,  in  grace  here,  and  glory  hereafter. 
Hail !  thou  great  and  glorious  Gaptain  of  my  salvation  !  In 
thee  I  see  that  Leader  and  Commander  which  Jehovah,  thy 
Father,  promised  to  give  to  the  people.  Thou 'art  indeed, 
blessed  Jesus  !  truly  commissioned  by  thy  Father  to  this  very 
purpose,  that  every  one  that  is  in  soul-distress,  by  reason  of 
sin,  and  debtors  to  the  broken  law  of  God,  may  come  unto 
thee,  and  take  thee  for  their  Captain.  And  truly.  Lord,  thy 
little  army,  like  David's,  is  composed  of  none  originally  but 
distressed  souls.      None  would   take  thee   for   his   Captain 


52  MORNING    PORTION. 

whose  spiritual  circumstances  are  not  desperate.  None  but 
the  man  whose  heart  hath  felt  distress,  by  reason  of  sin,  and 
is  sinking  under  the  heavy  load  of  guilt,  will  come  under  thy 
banner.  Oh !  the  condescension  of  Jesus  to  receive  such, 
and  be  gracious  unto  them.  Oh !  that  I  had  the  power  of 
persuasion,  I  would  say  to  every  poor  sinner,  every  insolvent 
debtor,  every  one  who  feels  and  knows  the  plague  of  his 
heart — Would  to  God  3'^ou  were  with  the  Captain  of  my  sal- 
vation, he  would  recover  j-ou  from  all  your  sorrow.  Go  to 
him,  my  brother,  as  I  have  done ;  he  will  take  away  your 
distress  by  taking  away  your  sin.  He  will  liberate  you  from 
all  your  debt  by  paying  it  himself  He  will  banish  all  dis- 
content from  the  mind,  in  giving  you  peace  with  God  by  his 
blood.  Yes !  blessed,  almighty  Captain  !  thou  art  indeed 
over  thy  people,  as  well  as  a  Captain  to  thy  people.  By  the 
sword  of  thy  spirit,  which  is  the  word  of  God,  thou  workest 
conviction  in  our  hearts ;  thou  makest  all  thine  enemies  fall 
under  thee  ;  thou  leadest  thy  people  on  to  victory,  and  makest 
them  more  than  conquerors  through  thy  grace  supporting 
them.  Lord,  put  on  the  military  garments  of  salvation  on 
my  soul,  and  the  whole  armour  of  God,  that  under  thy  ban- 
ner, I  maybe  found  in  life,  in  death,  and  for  evermore. 

7. — They  shall  hunger  no  more. — Rev.  vii.  16. 

My  soul !  contemplate  for  a  moment,  before  thou  enterest 
upon  the  concerns  of  time  and  sense  in  the  claims  of  the 
world,  the  blessed  state  of  the  redeemed  above.  They  are  at 
the  fountain  head  of  happiness,  in  their  station,  in  their  ser- 
vice, in  their  society,  in  their  provision,  in  their  everlasting 
exemption  from  all  want,  and,  above  all,  in  the  presence  of' 
God  and  the  Lamb.  "  They  shall  hunger  no  more.''  Sweet 
thought.  Let  me  this  day  anticipate  as  many  of  the  blessed 
properties  of  it  as  my  present  state  in  Jesus  will  admit.  If  Je- 
sus be  my  home,  my  residence,  my  dw^elling-place,  \\'i\[  not 
the  hungerings  of  my  soul  find  supply?  Yes!  surely.  A 
life  of  faith  on  the  Son  of  God,  is  a  satisfying  life  under  all 
the  changes  o{  the  world  around.  Finding  Jesus,  I  find  sus- 
tenance in  him,  and  therefore  do  not  hunger  for  aught  besides 
him.  "  Thou  art  my  hiding-place,"  said  one  of  old  ;  and  my 
soul  finds  occasion  to  adopt  the  same  language.  And  He 
that  is  my  hiding-place,  is  also  my  food  and  my  nourishment. 
In  JesiKithere  is  both  food  and  a  fence  ;  there  is  fruit  as  well 
as  a  shadow ;  and  the  fulness  of  Jesus  needs  vent  in  the 
wants  of  his  people,  for  the  pouring  forth  of  his  all-suffi- 


MARCH.  53 

ciency.  My  soul !  cherish  this  thought  to  the  full.  If  thy 
hunger  be  really  for  Jesus,  and  him  only,  then  will  thy  hun- 
ger be  abundantly  supplied  in  his  communication.  As  long  as 
I  look  at  my  wants,  without  an  eye  to  Jesus,  I  shall  be  mise- 
rable. But  if  I  consider  those  wants,  and  that  emptiness  pur- 
posely appointed  for  the  pouring  out  of  his  fulness,  they  will 
appear  as  made  for  the  cause  of  happiness.  Jesus  keeps  up 
the  hungering  that  he  may  have  the  blessedness  of  supplying 
them ;  he  keeps  his  children  empty  that  he  may  fill  them, 
and  that  his  fulness  may  be  in  request  among  them.  So  far, 
therefore,  is  my  hungering  from  becoming  a  source  of  sorrow, 
it  furnisheth  out  a  source  of  holy  joy.  I  should  never  be 
straitened  in  myself,  when  I  am  not  straitened  in  Jesus.  Nay, 
it  would  be  a  sad  token  of  distance  from  Jesus  if  a  sense  of 
want  was  lessened.  While  on  the  other  hand,  the  best  proof 
I  can  have  of  nearness  to  Jesus,  and  living  upon  him,  is, 
when  my  enjoyment  of  Jesus  discovers  new  and  increasing 
wants,  and  excites  an  holy  hungering  for  his  supplying  them. 
By-and-by  I  shall  get  home,  and  then,  at  the  fountain-head 
of  rapture  and  delight,  all  hungering  and  wants  will  be  done 
away  in  the  full  and  everlasting  enjoyment  of  God  and  the 
Lamb ! 

8. — From  this  day  will  I  bless  thee. — Haggai  ii.  9. 

My  soul !  what  day  is  the  memorable  day  to  thee  from 
whence  commenced  thy  blessing  ?  No  doubt  from  everlast- 
ing the  Lord  hath  blessed  his  people  in  Jesus.  But  the  com- 
mencement of  thy  personal  enjoyment  of  those  blessings, 
was  at  the  time  the  Lord  graciously  laid  the  foundation  of  his 
spiritual  temple  in  thee ;  the  blessed,  the  gracious,  the  auspi- 
cious, the  happy  day,  when  the  Lord  made  thee  willing  in 
the  day  of  his  power  !  Oh  !  blessed  day,  never,  never  to  be 
forgotten  !  A  day  of  light ;  when  the  light  of  Jesus  first 
broke  in  upon  me.  A  day  of  life ;  when  the  Lord  Jesus 
quickened  my  poor  soul,  which  before  was  lying  dead  in 
trespasses  and  sins.  A  day  of  love ;  when  his  love  first 
was  made  known  to  my  soul,  who  so  loved  me  as  to  give  his 
dear  and  ever-blessed  Son  for  me :  and  His  love  was  sweetly 
manifested,  who  so  loved  me  as  to  give  himself  for  me.  A 
day  of  the  beginning  of  victory  over  death,  hell,  and  the 
grave.  A  day  of  liberty  ;  when  the  Lord  Jesus  opened  my 
prison  doors  and  brought  me  out.  A  day  of  wonder,  love, 
and  praise  ;  when  mine  eyes  first  saw  the  King  in  his  beauty, 
and  my  whole  soul  was  overpowered  in  the  contemplation  of 

5* 


54  MORNING   PORTION. 

the  grace,  the  glory,  the  beauty,  the  loveliness,  the  suitable- 
ness, the  all-sufficiency,  of  his  glorious  Person  and  his  glo- 
rious work.  A  day !  oh  what  dear  name  shall  I  term  it  to 
be?  A  day  of  grace,  a  jubilee,  a  salvation  day  ;  the  day  of 
my  espousals  to  Jesus,  and  of  the  gladness  of  my  Redeemer's 
heart.  And,  my  soul,  did  thy  God,  did  thy  Jesus,  say,  that 
from  that  day  he  would  bless  thee?  And  hath  he  not  done 
it  ?  Oh  !  yes,  yes  ;  beyond  all  conception  of  blessing.  He 
hath  blessed  thee  in  thy  basket  and  thy  store.  All  the  bles- 
sings, even  in  temporal  mercies,  which  were  all  forfeited  in 
Adam,  are  now  sweetly  restored,  and  blessed,  and  sanctified, 
in  Jesus :  nay,  even  thy  very  crosses  have  the  curse  taken  out 
of  them  by  thy  Jesus  ;  and  thy  very  tears  have  the  spiced 
wine  of  the  pomegranate.  And,  as  to  spiritual  blessings, 
God  thy  Father  hath  blessed  thee  with  all  in  his  dear  Son, 
Thy  Father  hath  made  over  himself,  in  Jesus,  with  all  his 
love  and  favour.  And  Jesus  is  thine  with  all  his  fulness, 
sweetness,  all-sufficiency.  And  God  the  Spirit,  with  all  his 
gracious  influences  and  comforts.  And  the  present  enjoy- 
ment of  these  unspeakable  mercies  becomes  the  sure  earnest 
of  blessings  which  are  eternal.  Jesus  himself  hath  declared, 
that  it  is  the  Father's  own  gracious  will  that  he  should  give 
eternal  life  to  as  many  as  the  Father  hath  given  him ;  and 
therefore  eternal  life  must  be  the  sure  portion  of  all  his  re- 
deemed. He  that  believeth  in  the  Son,  hath  indeed  everlast- 
ing life  ;  and  Jesus  wall  raise  him  up  at  the  last  day.  Pause, 
my  soul !  and  view  the  vast  heritage  to  which  thou  art  begot- 
ten from  the  day  of  thy  new  birth  in  Jesus.  Oh  !  most  gra- 
cious Father !  let  me  never  lose  sight  of  those  sweet  words, 
,nor  the  feeling  sense  of  my  interest  in  them,  in  which  thou 
''hast  said,  "  From  this  day  will  I  bless  thee." 

9. — But  now  in  Christ  Jesus,  ye,  who  sometimes  were  far  off,  are  made 
nigh  by  the  blood  of  Christ. — Ephes.  ii.  13. 

Of  all  the  vast  alterations  made  upon  our  nature  by  grace, 
that  which  is  from  death  to  life  seems  to  be  the  greatest.  I 
do  not  think  the  change  would  be  as  great,  if  Jesus  were  to 
make  a  child  of  God,  after  his  conversion,  at  once  an  angel, 
as  when  by  his  blessed  Spirit,  he  quickens  the  sinner,  dead 
in  trespasses  and  sins,  and  brings  him  into  grace.  My  soul ! 
contemplate  the  sweet  thought  this  morning,  that  it  may  lead 
thee,  with  thy  hymn  of  praise,  to  all  precious  Jesus  !  First 
then,  my  soul,  think  where  you  then  stood.,  before  this  vast  act 
of  grace  had  quickened  you.     You  stood  on  the  very  con- 


MARCH.  55 

fines  of  hell — unawakened,  unregenerate,  uncalled,  without 
God,  and  without  Christ.  Supposing"  the  Lord  had  not 
saved  you  ;  supposing  a  sickness  unto  death  had,by  his  com- 
mand, taken  you  ;  supposing  that  any  one  cause  had  been 
commissioned  to  sign  your  death-warrant  while  in  this  state; 
where  must  have  been  your  portion  ?  And  yet  consider, 
my  soul,  how  many  nights  and  days  did  you  live  in  this  un- 
conscious, unconcerned  state  !  Oh!  who,  in  this  view  of  the 
thought,  can  look  back  without  having  the  eye  brim-full  of 
tears,  and  the  heart  bursting  with  love  and  thankfulness  7 
Go  on,  my  soul,  and  contemplate  the  subject  in  another  point 
of  view  ;  and  pause  in  the  pleasing  thought,  ^vhere  you  now 
stand.  "  You  are  now,"  saith  the  Apostle,  "  made  nigh  by 
the  blood  of  Christ."  You  that  was  an  enemy  to  God  by 
wicked  works,  yet  now  hath  he  reconciled  in  the  body  of  his 
flesh,  through  death,  to  present  you  holy,  and  unblameable, 
and  unreproveable,  in  his  sight.  And  now,  my  soul,  if 
death  should  come,  it  is  but  the  messenger  to  glory.  Precious, 
blessed  thought.  And  oh  !  how  much  more  precious  blessed 
Jesus,  the  Author  of  it !  Advance,  my  soul,  one  step  more 
in  this  sweet  subject,  and  pleasingly  consider,  where  you  soon 
shall  be.  Paul  answereth,  "  So  shall  ice  be  ever  with  the  Lord." 
Ever  with  the  Lord  !  Who  can  write  down  the  full  amount 
of  this  blessedness  ?  Ever  with  the  Lord  !  Here  we  are,  in 
Jesus,  interested  in  all  that  belongs  to  Jesus ;  but  there,  we 
shall  be  also  icith  Jesus.  Here  we  see  him  but  as  through  a 
glass  darkly  :  but  there,  face  to  face.  Here  even  the  views  we 
have  of  him,  by  faith,  are  but  glimpses  only — short  and  rare, 
compared  to  our  desires  :  but  there,  we  shall  see  him  in  reality, 
in  substance,  and  unceasingly  the  precious,  glorious,  God- 
man  Christ  Jesus.  Here  our  sins,  though  pardoned,  yet  dim 
our  view,  by  reason  of  their  effects :  there  we  shall  for  ever 
have  lost  them,  and  see  and  know  even  as  we  are  known.  And 
have  these  blessed  changes  taken  place  in  my  soul ;  and  all 
by  thee,  thou  gracious,  precious.  Holy  One  of  Israel  ?  Oh  ! 
for  grace  to  love  thee,  to  live  to  thee,  to  be  looking  out  for 
thee,  dearest  Jesus !  that  I  may  be  counting  every  parting 
breath,  every  beating  pulse,  as  one  the  less,  to  bring  me 
nearer  and  nearer  to  Jesus,  who  is  my  everlasting  home,  and 
will,  ere  long,  be  my  never-ceasing  portion  and  happiness  in 
eternity.     HallelujaL 


56  MORNING   PORTION. 

10. — And  hast  feared  continually  every  day,  because  of  the  fury  of  the 
oppressor,  as  if  lie  were  ready  to  destroy ;  and  where  is  the  fury  of 
the  oppressor? — Isaiah  li.  13. 

Pause,  my  soul,  over  those  sweet  expostulating  words  of 
thy  God.  Wherefore  should  the  fear  of  man  bring  a  snare  ? 
How  much  needless  anxiety  should  I  spare  myself,  could  I 
but  live,  amidst  all  my  changeable  days  and  changeable  cir- 
cumstances, upon  my  Unchangeable  God.  Now,  mark  what 
thy  God  saith  of  thy  unreasonable  and  ill-grounded  fears  : — 
"  Where  is  the  fury  of  the  oppressor?"  Can  he  take  from 
thee  thy  Jesus'?  No!  Shouldest  thou  lose  all  thy  earthly 
comforts,  Jesus  ever  liveth,  and  Jesus  is  thine.  Can  he  afflict 
thee  if  God  saith  no  ?  That  is  impossible.  Neither  men 
nor  devils  can  oppress  without  his  permission.  And  sure 
enough  thou  art,  thy  God  and  Saviour  will  never  allow- 
any  thing  to  thy  hurt ;  for  all  things  must  work  for  good. 
And  canst  thou  lessen  the  oppressor's  fury  by  anxious  fears  % 
Certainly  not.  Thou  mayest,  my  soul,  harass  thyself  and 
waste  thy  spirits,  but  never  lessen  the  fury  of  the  enemy 
thereby.  And  wherefore,  then,  shouldest  thou  crowd  the  un- 
certain evils,  and  the  may  he's  of  to-morrow,  in  the  circum- 
stances of  this  day's  warfare,  when,  by  only  waiting  for  the 
morrow,  and  casting  all  thy  care  upon  Jesus,  who  careth  for 
thee,  his  faithfulness  is  engaged  to  be  thy  shield  and  buckler? 
Peace  then,  my  soul,  thou  shalt  be  carried  through  this  op- 
pression, as  sure  as  thou  hast  been  through  every  former  ; 
for  Jesus  is  still  Jesus,  thy  God,  and  will  be  thy  guide  even 
unto  death. 

11. — And  behold,  there  came  a  leper  and  worshipped  him,  saying,  Lord  I 
if  thou  wilt,  thou  canst  make  me  clean.  And  Jesus  put  forth  his 
hand  and  touched  him,  saying,  I  will  ;  be  thou  clean.  And  imme- 
diately the  leprosy  was  cleansed. — Matt.  viii.  2,  3. 

Behold,  my  soul,  in  the  instance  of  this  leper,  thine  own 
circumstances.  What  he  was  in  body,  such  wert  thou  in 
soul.  As  his  leprosy  made  him  loathsome  and  offensive  be- 
fore men,  so  thy  polluted  soul  made  thee  odious  in  the  sight 
of  God.  He  would  not  have  sought  a  cure,  had  he  not  been 
conscious  of  his  need  of  it.  Neither  wouldest  thou  have  ever 
looked  to  Jesus,  had  he  not  convinced  thee  of  thy  helpless- 
ness and  misery  without  him.  Moreover,  he  would  not, 
though  convinced  how  much  he  needed  healing,  have  sought 
that  mercy  from  Jesus,  had  he  not  been  made  sensible  of 
Jesus'  ability  to  the  cure.     Neither  wouldest  thou  ever  have 


MARCH.  if 

come  to  Jesus,  hadst  thou  not  been  taught  who  Jesus 
is,  and  how  fully  competent  to  deliver  thee.  The  poor 
leper  did  not  doubt  whether  Jesus  was  able ;  though  he 
rather  feared  that  ability  might  not  be  exercised  towards 
him.  His  prayer  was,  not  if  thou  art  able ;  but,  "  Lord,  if 
thou  wilt^  thou  canst  make  me  clean."  Now  here,  my  soul, 
I  hope  thy  faith,  through  grace,  exceeds  the  Jewish  leper. 
Surely  thou  both  knowest  Jesus'  power  and  Jesus'  dispo- 
sition to  save  thee.  Unworthy  and  undeserving  as  thou  art, 
yet  his  grace  is  not  restrained  by  thy  undeservings,  no  more 
than  it  was  first  constrained  by  thy  merit.  His  love,  his  own 
love,  his  free  love,  is  the  sole  rule  of  his  mercy  towards  his 
children,  and  not  their  claims  ;  for  they  have  none,  but  in  his 
free  grace  and  the  Father's  everlasting  mercy.  Cherish 
these  thoughts,  my  soul,  at  all  times,  for  they  are  most  sweet 
and  precious.  But  are  these  all  the  blessed  things  which 
arise  out  of  the  view  of  the  poor  leper's  case  ?  Oh  !  no  ;  the 
most  delightful  part  still  remains  in  the  contemplation  of 
Jesus'  mercy  to  the  poor  petitioner,  and  the  very  gracious 
manner  the  Son  of  God  manifested  in  the  bestowing  of  it.  He 
not  only  healed  him,  and  did  it  immediately,  but  with  that 
tenderness  w^hich  distinguished  his  character  and  his  love  to 
poor  sinners,  Jesus  put  forth  his  hand  and  touched  him : 
touched  a  leper.  Even  so,  precious  Lord !  deal  by  me. 
Though  polluted  and  unclean,  yet  condescend  to  put  forth 
thine  hand  and  touch  me  also.  Put  forth  thy  blessed  Spirit. 
Come,  Lord,  and  dwell  in  me,  abide  in  me,  and  rule  and 
reign  over  me.  Be  thou  my  God,  my  Jesus,  my  Holy  One, 
and  make  me  thine  for  ever  ? 

12. — FoUowere  of  them  who,  through  faith  and  patience,  inherit  the 
promises. — Heh'  vi.  12. 

How  gracious  is  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  not  only  holding  forth 
to  the  people  of  Jesus  the  blessedness  and  certainty  of  the 
promises,  but  opening  to  our  view  multitudes,  who  are  now 
in  glory,  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  them.  My  soul !  dost  thou 
ask  how  they  lived,  when  upon  earth  in  the  full  prospect,  be- 
fore that  they  were  called  upon  to  enter  heaven  for  the  full 
participation  of  them?  Hear  what  the  blessed  Spirit  saith 
concerning  it  in  this  sweet  Scripture.  It  was  through  faith 
and  patience.  Now  observe  how  these  blessed  principles 
manifested  themselves.  Another  part  of  Scripture  explains 
— "  They  all  died  in  faith,  not  having  received  the  promises ; 
but  having  seen  them  afar  off,  and  were  persuaded  of  them, 


68  MORNING   PORTION. 

and  embraced  them.  Now  this  is  the  whole  sum  and  sub- 
stance of  the  believer's  life  :  he  sees  them  afar  off^  as  Abraham 
did  the  day  of  Christ — as  David,  who  had  the  same  enjoy- 
ment in  a  believing-  view,  with  which  his  whole  soul  was 
satisfied  ;  for  he  saith,  it  was  all  his  salvation  and  all  his  de- 
sire ;  a  covenant  which  he  rested  upon,  as  ordered  in  all 
things,  and  sure.  Pause,  my  soul,  over  this,  and  ask  within, 
are  your  views  thus  firmly  founded  ?  What,  though  the  day 
of  Christ's  second  coming  be  far  off,  or  nigh,  doth  thy  faith 
realize  the  blessed  things  belonging  to  it  as  certain,  and  as 
sure  as  God  is  truth  ?  Pause,  and  see  that  such  is  thy  faith 
— then  go  on.  The  faithful,  who  now  inherit  the  promises,  and 
which  the  Holy  Ghost  bids  thee  to  follow,  not  only  saw  with  the 
eye  of  faith  the  things  of  Jesus  afar  off,  but  loere  'persuaded  of 
them ;  that  is,  were  as  perfectly  satisfied  of  their  existence 
and  reality,  as  if  they  were  already  in  actual  possession. 
Pause  here  again,  and  say,  is  this  thy  faith?  Are  you  per- 
fectly persuaded  that  God  was  in  Christ,  reconciling  the 
world  to  himself,  not  imputing  their  trespasses  unto  them? 
Are  you  convinced  that  it  is  God's  design,  God's  plan,  God's 
grace,  God's  love,  God's  mercy,  in  all  that  concerns  Jesus  ? 
Art  thou  convinced  that  God's  glory  is  concerned  in  the 
glory  of  Jesus,  and  that  every  poor  sinner  gives  glory  to  God 
in  believing  the  record  that  God  hath  given  of  his  Son  ?  Dost 
thou,  my  soul,  believe  heartily,  cordially,  fully,  joyfully  be- 
lieve, these  precious  things ;  nay  that,  in  fact,  it  is  the  only 
possible  way  a  poor  sinner  can  give  glory  to  God,  in  looking 
up  to  him  as  God,  in  giving  him  the  credit  of  God,  and 
taking  his  word  as  God,  concerning  his  dear  Son  Jesus 
Christ.  Dost  thou,  my  soul,  set  thy  seal  to  these  things  ? 
Then  art  thou  'persuaded  of  the  truths  of  God,  as  the  patriarchs 
were  7vho  saw  them  afar  off.  Once  more — the  faithful,  whom 
the  Holy  Ghost  calls  upon  thee  to  follow,  embraced  them  also, 
as  well  as  were  persuaded  of  them.  They  clasped  by  faith, 
Jesus  in  their  arms,  as  really  and  as  truly  as  Simeon  did  m 
substance.  Their  love  to  Jesus,  and  their  interest  in  Jesus, 
their  acquaintance  by  faith  tinth  Jesus,  were  matters  of  cer- 
tainty, reality,  delight ;  and  their  whole  souls  were,  day  by 
day,  so  familiarized  in  the  unceasing  meditation,  that  they 
walked  by  faith  with  Jesus  while  here  below,  as  now,  by 
sight,  they  are  with  him  above  in  glory.  Pause,  my  soul ! 
Is  this  thy  faith?  Then,  surely,  Jesus  is  precious,  and  thou 
art  indeed  the  follower  of  them  who  now,  through  faith  and 
patience,  inherit  the  promises.     And   ere  long,  like  them, 


MAB.CH.  Sm 

thou  shalt  see  him  whom  thy  soul  loveth,  and  dwell  with 
him  for  ever. 

13._0  thou  of  Uttle  failh,  wherefore  didst  thou  doubt  ?     Matt.  xiv.  31. 

My  soul !  how  sweet  is  it  to  eye  Jesus  in  all  things,  and 
to  be  humbled  in  the  recollection  of  his  compassions  to  thy 
unaccountable  instances  of  unbelief,  after  the  many,  nay  con- 
tinued, and  daily  experiences  which  thou  hast  had  of  his  love 
and  faithfulness.  And  doth  thy  Jesus  speak  to  thee  this 
day,  in  those  expostulating^  worcfs,  "  Oh  thou  of  little  faith, 
wherefore  didst  thou  doubt?'  What  answer  wilt  thou  re- 
turn ?  Is  there  any  thing  in  thy  life  to  justify,  or  even  to 
apologize,  for  doubting  ?  Look  back — Behold  thy  God  and 
Father's  grace,  and  mercy,  and  love !  A  Saviour  so  rich,  so 
compassionate,  so  answering  all  wants,  in  spirituals,  tem- 
porals, and  eternals!  A  blessed  Spirit,  so  condescending  to 
teach,  to  lead,  and  by  his  influences,  to  be  continually  with 
thee!  Surely  a  life  like  thine,  crowded  with  mercies,  bless- 
ings upon  blessings,  and  one  miracle  of  grace  followed  by 
another — wherefore  shouldest  thou  doubt  ?  What  shall  I  say 
to  thee,  oh  thou  that  art  the  hope  of  Israel,  and  the  Saviour 
thereof  I  Lord  give  me  to  believe,  and  help  thou  mine  un- 
belief. I  beseech  thee,  my  God  and  Saviour,  give  me  hetice- 
forth  faith  to  trust  thee  when  I  cannot  trace  thee :  give  me  to 
hang  upon  thee  when  the  ground  of  all  sensible  comforts 
seems  sinking  under  my  feet.  I  would  cling  to  the  faithful- 
ness of  my  God  in  Christ,  and  throw  my  poor  arms  around 
thee,  thou  blessed  Jesus!  when  all  things  appear  the  most 
dark  and  discouraging.  And  thus,  day  by  day.  living  a  life 
of  faith  and  whole  dependence  upon  thy  glorious  Person  and 
thy  glorious  work,  pressing  after  more  sensible  communion 
with  thee,  and  more  imparted  strength  and  grace  from  thee, 
until  at  length,  when  thou  shalt  call  me  home  from  a  life  of 
faith  to  a  life  of  sight — then,  precious  Jesus  !  would  I  say  to 
thee,  with  my  dying  breath,  "  Oh  present  me,  washed  in  thy 
blood  and  clothed  in  thy  righteousness,  among  the  whole 
body  of  thy  glorious  church,  not  ha\'ing  spot  or  wrinkle,  or 
any  such  thing,  but  that  I  may  be  without  blame  before  thee 
in  love." 

14. — And  for  their  sakes  I  sanctify  myself. — John  xviL  19. 
Let  thy  morning  thoughts,  my  soul,  be  directed  to  this 
sweet  view  of  thy  Saviour.     Behold  thv  Jesus  presenting 
himself  as  the  Surety  of  his  people  before  6od  and  the  Father. 


60  MORNING   PORTION. 

Having  now  received  the  call  and  authority  of  God  the 
Father,  and  being  fitted  with  a  body  suited  to  the  service  of 
a  Redeemer,  here  see  him  entering  upon  the  vast  work,  and, 
in  those  blessed  words,  declaring  the  cause  of  it — /  sanctify 
myself.  Did  Jesus  mean  that  he  made  himself  more  holy  for 
the  purpose  1  No,  surely  ;  for  that  was  impossible.  But  by 
Jesus'  sanctifying  himself,  must  be  understood  (as  the  Naza- 
rite  from  the  womb,  consecrated,  set  apart,  dedicated  to  the 
service  to  which  the  Father  had  called  him)  a  voluntary 
offering — an  holy  unblemished  sacrifice.  And  observe  for 
whom :  for  their  sakes  ;  not  for  himself,  for  he  needed  it  not. 
The  priests  under  the  law  made  their  offerings,  first  for  them- 
selves, and  then  for  the  people.  But  such  an  High-Priest 
became  us,  who  is  holy,  harmless,  undefiled,  separate  from 
sinners,  and  made  higher  than  the  heavens;  and  who  needed 
not  daily,  as  those  high  priests,  so  to  offer.  For  the  law 
maketh  men  high-priests  which  have  infirmity ;  but  the  Son 
is  concecrated  for  evermore.  My  soul !  pause  over  this  view  of 
thy  Jesus ;  and  when  thou  hast  duly  pondered  it,  go  to  the 
mercy-seat,  under  the  Spirit's  leadings  and  influences,  and 
there,  by  failh,  behold  thy  Jesus,  in  his  vesture  dipped  in 
blood,  there  sanctified,  and  there  appearing  in  the  presence 
of  God  for  thee.  There  plead  the  dedication  of  Jesus  ;  for  it 
is  of  the  Father's  own  appointment.  There  tell  thy  God  and 
Father  (for  it  is  the  Father's  glory  when  a  poor  sinner  glo- 
rifies his  dear  Son  in  him)  that  He,  that  Holy  One,  whom 
the  Father  consecrated,  and  with  an  oath  confirmed  in  his 
high-priestly  office  for  ever,  appeareth  there  for  thee.  Tell 
God  that  thy  High-Priest's  holiness  and  sacrifice  was  alto- 
gether holy,  pure,  without  a  spot ;  and  both  his  Person,  and 
his  nature,  and  offering,  clean  as  God's  own  righteous  law. 
Tell,  my  soul,  tell  thy  God  and  Father  these  sacred  solemn 
truths.  And  while  thou  art  thus  coming  to  the  mercy-seat, 
under  the  leadings  of  the  Spirit,  and  wholly  in  the  name  and 
office-work  of  thy  God  and  Saviour,  look  unto  Jesus,  and 
call  to  mind  those  sweet  words,  for  whose  sake  that  Holy 
One  sanctified  himself;  and  then  drop  a  petition  more  before 
thou  comest  from  the  heavenly  court :  beg,  and  pray,  and 
wrestle,  with  the  bountiful  Lord,  for,  suited  strength  and 
grace,  that  as,  for  thy  sake,  among  the  other  poor  sinners  of 
his  redemption-love,  Jesus  sanctified  himself,  so  thou  maycst 
be  able  to  be  separated  from  every  thing  but  Jesus  ;  and  as 
thy  happiness  was  Christ's  end,  so  his  glory  may  be  thy  first 
and  greatest  object.     Yes,  dearest  Jesus!  methinks  1  hear 


MARCH.  61 

thee  say,  thou  shalt  be  for  me,  and  not  for  another :  so  will  I 
be  for  thee.  Oh  !  thou  condescending,  loving  God  !  make 
me  thine,  that  whether  I  live,  I  may  live  unto  the  Lord ;  or 
whether  I  die,  I  may  die  unto  the  Lord;  so  that  living  or 
dying  I  may  be  thine. 

15. — Then  went  King  David  in.  and  sat  before  the  Lord.  And  he  said, 
Who  am  I,  O  Lord  God  I  and  what  is  my  house,  that  thou  heist 
brought  me  hitherto  ?  And  is  this  the  manner  of  man,  O  Lord  God? 
—2  SaM.  vii.  18,  19. 

The  language  of  David,  under  the  overwhelming  view  he 
had  of  divine  goodness  as  it  concerned  himself,  is  suited  to 
the  case  of  every  child  of  God,  as  he  may  trace  that  good- 
ness in  his  own  history.  Surely  every  awakened  soul  may 
cry  out,  under  the  same  impressions,  '•  Who  am  I,  O  Lord 
God !  and  what  is  my  house,  that  thou  hast  brought  me 
hitherto?"  My  soul!  ponder  over  the  sweet  subject  as  it 
concern's  thyself  Behold  what  manner  of  love  the  love  of 
God  is  from  the  manner  of  man  !  View  it  in  each  Person 
of  the  Godhead  !  What  is  the  highest  possible  conception 
any  man  can  have  of  the  love  of  God  our  Father  to  us? 
Was  it  not  when,  as  an  evidence  of  the  love  he  had  to  our 
nature,  he  put  a  robe  of  that  nature,  in  its  pure  and  holy 
state,  upon  the  Person  of  his  dear  Son  ;  when  he  gave  him 
a  body  in  all  points  such  as  ours,  sin  only  excepted,  that  he 
might  not  only  in  that  body  perfect  salvation,  both  by  his 
obedience  and  death,  but  also  that  he  might  be  our  ever- 
lasting Mediator  for  drawing  nigh  to  the  Godhead,  first  in 
grace,  and  then  in  glory  1  Tell  me.  my  soul,  what  method, 
in  all  the  stores  of  Omnipotency,  could  God  thy  Father  have 
adopted  to  convince  thee  of  his  love,  as  in  this  sweet  method 
of  his  wisdom.  God  intimates,  by  this  tender  process,  that  he 
loveth  the  human  nature  which  he  hath  created.  And  though, 
to  answer  the  wise  measures  of  his  plan  of  redemption,  he  hath 
not  as  yet  taken  all  the  persons  of  his  redeemed  up  to  his  hea- 
venly court,  yet  he  will  have  their  glorious  Head,  their  repre- 
sentative, there,  that  he  may  behold  Him,  and  accept  the  whole 
church  in  Him,  and  love  them  and  bless  them  in  Plim,  now  and 
for  ever.  Oh  !  my  soul !  if  this  view  of  thy  Father's  love  was 
but  always  uppermost  in  thine  heart,  what  a  ground  of  encou- 
ragement would  it  for  ever  give  thee,  to  come  to  thy  God 
and  Father  in  him  and  his  mediation;  who,  while  he  is  One 
in  the  divine  nature,  is  One  also  with  thee  in  the  human, 
on  purpose  to  bid  thee  come.     And  as  for  thee,  thou  blessed 

6 


62  MORNING   PORTION. 

Jesus !  thy  love  and  thy  delights  were  always  with  thy 
people.  From  everlasting  thy  tendencies  of  favour  have 
been  towards  them;  thine  whole  heart  is  ours.  All  thy 
grace,  in  being  set  up  as  the  Covenant-head  for  us ;  and  all 
the  after-actings  of  the  same  grace  in  time ;  all  that  thou 
didst  then,  and  all  that  thou  art  doing  now — all,  all  testify 
the  love  of  our  Jesus.  And  may  I  not  say  to  thee,  thou  dear 
Redeemer!  as  David  did — "Is  this  the 'manner  of  man,  O 
Lord  God  ?"  Yes !  it  is ;  but  it  is  of  the  glory-man,  the 
God-man  Christ  Jesus ;  and  no  less  thou  Holy  Spirit,  whose 
great  work  is  love  and  consolation.  What  a  thought  is  it  to 
warm  my  spul  into  the  most  awakened  contemplation  and 
delight  in  the  view  of  thy  love,  that  though  thou  art  of  purer 
eyes  than  to  behold  iniquity,  yet  dost  thou  make  the  very- 
bodies  of  the  redeemed  thy  temples,  for  thine  indwelling  resi- 
dence. My  soul !  do  as  David  did  !  go  in  before  the  Divine 
Presence  ;  fall  down  and  adore  in  the  solemn  thought — 
"  Who  am  I,  O  Lord  God !  and  what  is  my  Father's  house  ?" 

16. — The  man  will  not  be  in  rest,  until  he  have  finished  the  thing  this 
day. — Ruth  iii.  18. 

Behold,  my  soul,  in  this  scripture  history,  some  sweet 
features  by  which  the  disposition  of  Jesus'  love,  and  the 
earnestness  in  his  heart  to  relieve  poor  sinners,  is  strikingly 
set  forth.  When  a  poor  sinner  is  made  acquainted  with  the 
Lord  Jesus,  hath  heard  of  his  grace,  goes  forth  to  glean  in 
his  fields  ;  at  the  ordinances  of  his  house,  and  under  the 
ministration  of  his  word,  lays  down  at  his  feet,  and  prays  to 
be  covered  with  the  skirt  of  his  mantle  ;  Jesus  not  only  takes 
notice  of  that  poor  seeking  sinner,  but  gives  the  poor  crea- 
ture to  know,  by  some  sweet  and  secret  whispers  of  his  Holy 
Spirit,  that  he  is  not  unacquainted  with  all  that  is  in  his  heart. 
And  when  such  have  lain  long,  and  earnestly  sought,  even 
through  the  whole  night  of  doubt  and  fear,  until  the  morning 
of  grace  breaks  in  upon  the  soul,  yet  may  they  be  assured 
the  God-man  Christ  Jesus  will  not  rest  until  he  hath  finished 
the  thing.  It  is  one  of  the  most  blessed  truths  of  the  gospel, 
(and  do  thou,  my  soul,  see  to  it,  that  it  is  written  in  thy  best 
and  strongest  remembrance  to  have  recourse  to,  as  may  be 
needed,  on  every  occasion,)  that  a  seeking  sinner  is  not  more 
earnest  to  see  Jesus,  and  enjoy  him,  than  Jesus  is  to  reveal 
himself  to  that  seeking  sinner,  and  form  himself  in  the  sin- 
ner's heart  the  hope  of  glory ;  for  Jesus  will  not,  cannot, 
cease  his  love  to  poor  sinners,  until  the  object  for  which  he 


MARCH.  63 

came  to  seek  and  save  them  is  fully  answered.  And  it  is  a 
thought,  my  soul,  enough  to  warm  thy  coldest  moments,  that 
all  the  hallelujahs  of  heaven  cannot  call  off  thy  Jesus'  atten- 
tion from  the  necessities  of  even  the  poorest  of  his  little  ones 
here  upon  earth.  In  every  individual  instance,  and  in  every 
case,  Jesus  will  not  rest  until  that  he  hath  finished  the  thing, 
as  well  in  the  hearts  of  his  people  as  in  the  world,  when  he 
finished  the  work  his  Father  gave  him  to  do.  Yes !  Jesus 
will  not  rest  until  the  last  redeemed  soul  is  brought  home  to 
glory.  Precious  consideration !  how  ought  it  to  endear  yet 
more  the  preciousness  of  the  Redeemer ! 

17. — Wherein  ye  greatly  rejoice,  though  now  for  a  season,  if  need  be,  ye 
are  in  heaviness  tiirough  manifold  temptations. — 1  Pet.  i.  6. 

My  soul !  it  is  too  difficult  a  task  for  flesh  and  blood,  but 
it  is  among  the  most  blessed  triumphs  of  grace,  to  glory  in 
tribulation,  that  the  power  of  Jesus  may  rest  upon  the  soul. 
Pause  over  the  subject,  and  see  whether  in  the  little  exercises 
of  thy  life,  such  things  are  among  thine  experiences.  A 
soul  must  be  truly  taught  of  God  the  Father ;  truly  ac- 
quainted with  Jesus,  and  living  near  to  him !  and  truly 
receiving  the  sweet  and  constant  influences  of  the  Holy 
Ghost:  when,  in  the  absence  of  the  streams  of  all  creature 
comforts,  he  is  solacing  himself  at  the  fountain-head  ;  and 
amidst  all  the  fiery  darts  of  temptations !  But,  my  soul,  if 
this  be  thy  happy  portion,  thou  must  have  acquired  it  in  the 
school  of  grace.  There  are  some  precious  marks  by  which 
thou  wilt  ascertain  these  things.  As  first — I  must  see  that 
the  manifold  temptations,  be  they  of  what  kind  or  number 
they  may,  are  in  the  permissions  of  Jesus.  I  must  trace  the 
footsteps  of  Jesus  in  them,  the  hand  of  Jesus  directing  me 
through  them,  the  voice  of  Jesus  I  must  hear  in  them ;  and, 
in  short,  his  sacred  person  regulating  and  ordering  all  the 
several  parts  of  them.  If  I  see  his  love,  his  wisdom,  his 
grace,  his  good-will,  in  all  the  appointment ;  whatever  heavi- 
ness the  temptations  themselves  induce,  there  will  still  be 
cause  left  for  joy — yea,  for  gi^eat  joy.  Moreover,  it  will  be 
an  additional  alleviation  to  soften  their  pressure,  if,  through 
the  whole  of  their  exercise,  the  soul  be  enabled  to  keep  in 
view,  that  God's  glory,  and  my  soul's  happiness,  will  be  the 
sure  issue  of  them.  If  I  can  realize  Jesus'  presence,  as  I 
pass  through  them,  and  interpret  with  an  application  to  my- 
self that  blessed  promise,  in  which  the  Lord  saith,  "  I  know 
the  thoughts  I  think  towards  you,  saith  the  Lord,  thoughts 


64  MORNING   PORTION. 

of  peace,  and  not  of  evil,  to  give  ^'■ou  an  expected  end;" 
these  mercies,  mingled  with  the  trial,  will  sweeten  and  al- 
most take  away  all  its  bitter.  And  lastly,  to  add  no  more — 
If,  my  soul,  the  Holy  Ghost  should  lead  out  thine  whole 
heart  upon  the  person  of  Jesus  during  the  conflict,  and,  by 
making  thee  sensible  of  thy  weakness,  to  take  shelter  in  him, 
and  to  lean  altogether  upon  his  strength ;  so  that  thou  art 
able  to  believe  and  to  depend  upon  the  fulfilment  of  his  pro- 
mise, when,  to  the  eye  of  sense,  there  doth  not  seem  a  way 
by  which  that  promise  may  be  fulfilled ;  these  are  founda- 
tions for  rejoicing,  and  of  great  rejoicing  too ;  because  they 
are  all  out  of  thyself  and  centred  in  Him,  with  whom  there 
is  no  possibility  of  change.  These  are,  like  the  Michtams 
of  David,  precious,  golden  things.  For  this  is  to  ifte  upon 
Jesus,  to  rejoice  in  Jesus,  and  to  find  in  him  a  suited  strength 
for  every  need.  Blessed  will  be  these  exercises,  my  soul,  if 
thou  art  enabled  thus  to  act  under  manifold  temptations. 

18. — And  Israel  strengthened  himself,  and  sat  up  m  the  bed. — Gen.  xlviii.  2. 

This  was  an  interesting  moment  in  the  life,  or  rather  the 
death,  of  the  patriarch,  and  may  serve,  my  soul !  to  show 
what  ought  to  be  the  conduct  of  the  believer  in  his  last,  ex- 
piring hours.  The  imagination  can  hardly  conceive  any 
situation  equally  momentous,  in  every  point  of  view,  both  as 
it  concerns  a  faithful  God,  a  man's  own  heart,  and  the 
church  the  dying  saint  is  going  to  leave  behind.  What  can 
form  a  more  lovely  sight  than  a  dying  saint,  sitting  up  in  the 
bed,  (if  the  Lord  permits  the  opportunity,)  and  recounting, 
as  Jacob  did,  the  gracious  dealings  of  the  Lord,  all  the  way 
along  the  path  of  pilgrimage — "  The  God  which  fed  me," 
said  Jacob,  "all  my  life  long  unto  this  day:  the  angel  (and 
who  was  this  but  Jesus?)  which  redeemed  me  from  all  evil." 
Pause,  ray  soul !  Anticipate  such  a  day.  Figure  to  thyself 
thy  friends  around  thee,  and  thou  thyself  strengthened,  just 
to  sit  up  in  the  bed,  to  take  an  everlasting  farewell.  What 
hast  thou  to  relate  ?  What  hast  thou  treasured  up  of  God's 
dealings  with  thee,  to  sweeten,  death  in  the  recital,  to  bless 
God  in  the  just  acknowledgment,  and  to  leave  behind  thee  a 
testimony  to  others  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus'?  My  soul, 
what  canst  thou  speak  of?  What  canst  thou  tell  of  thy  God, 
thy  Jesus?  Hast  thou  known  enough  of  him  to  commit  thy- 
self into  his  Almighty  hands,  with  an  assurance  of  salva- 
tion ?  Pause !  Didst  thou  not  in  the  act  of  faith,  long 
since,  venture  thyself  upon  Jesus  for  the  whole  of  thy  ever- 


MARCH.  65 

lasting  welfare?  Didst  thou  not,  from  a  perfect  conviction 
of  thy  need  of  Jesus,  and  from  as  perfect  a  conviction  of  the 
power  and  grace  of  Jesus  to  save  thee — didst  thou  not  make 
a  full  and  complete  surrender  of  thyself,  and  with  the  most 
perfect  approbation  of  this  blessed  pian  of  God's  mercy  in 
Christ,  to  be  saved  wholly  by  him,  and  wholly  in  his  own 
way,  and  wholly  to  his  own  glory?  And,  as  such,  art  thou 
now  afraid,  or  art  thou  now  shrinking  back,  when  come 
within  sight  almost  of  Jesus'  arms  to  receive  thee  ?  Oh  no  ! 
blessed  be  God  !  this  last  act  of  committing  thy  soul  is  not  as 
great  an  act  of  faith  as  the  first  was ;  for  since  that  time  thou 
hast  had  thousands  of  evidences,  and  thousands  of  tokens  in 
love  and  faithfulness,  that  thy  God  is  true.  Sit  up  then,  my 
soul,  and  do  as  the  dying  patriarch  did,  recount  to  all  around 
thee  thy  confidence  in  the  Son  of  God,  who  hath  loved  thee, 
and  given  himself  for  thee.  Cry  out  as  he  did,  "  I  have 
waited  for  thy  salvation,  O  Lord."  And  as  this  will  be  the 
last  opportunity  of  speaking  a  word  for  God,  testify  of  his 
faithfulness,  and  encourage  all  that  behold  you  to  be  seeking 
after  an  interest  in  Jesus,  from  seeing  how  sweetly  you  close 
a  life  of  faith  before  you  begin  a  life  of  glory ;  in  blessing 
God,  though  with  dying  lips,  that  the  last  notes  which  you 
utter  here  below,  may  be  only  the  momentary  interruption  to 
the  same  subject  in  the  first  of  your  everlasting  song — "  To 
him  that  hath  Loved,  you^  and  washed  you  from  your  sins  in  his 
bloody 

19. — Oh  that  I  knew  where  I  might  find  him,  that  I  might  come  even 
to  his  seat  I  I  would  order  my  cause  before  him,  and  fill  my  mouth 
with  arguments.  Will  he  plead  against  me  with  his  great  strength  ? 
No ;  but  he  would  put  strength  in  me. — Job  xxiii.  3,  4,  5. 

My  soul !  are  these  thy  breathings  ?  Dost  thou  really  long, 
and,  like  David,  even  pant,  to  come  before  the  throne  of 
grace?  Art  thou  at  a  loss  how  to  come,  how  to  draw  nigh? 
Wouldest  thou  fill  thy  mouth  with  arguments,  and  have  thy 
cause  so  ordered  as  to  be  sure  not  to  fail  ?  Look  to  Jesus  ? 
Seek  from  him  the  leadings  of  the  Spirit  ?  And  while  thine 
eye  is  steadily  fixed  on  thy  Great  High-Priest  within  the  vail 
still  wearing  a  vesture  dipped  in  blood,  see  to  it  that  thy  one 
great  plea  is  for  a  perfect  and  complete  justification  before 
God  and  thy  Father,  upon  the  sole  footing  of  righteousness. 
Yes,  my  soul !  plead  earnestly,  heartily,  steadily  :  and,  like 
Jacob  wrestling  with  God,  upon  the  sole  footing  of  righteous- 
ness.    Wouldest  thou  fear  on  this   ground  ?      Yes !    thou 

6* 


66  MORNING  PORTION. 

wouldest  have  cause  enough  to  fear  and  tremhle,  if  thy  plea 
was  with  the  least  reference  to  any  righteousness  of  thine. 
But,  my  soul,  remember  it  is  Jesus'  righteousness,  and  his 
only,  with  which,  like  Job,  thy  mouth  must  be  filled  with  ar- 
guments. This  is  the  strength  thy  God  and  Father  will  put 
in  thee:  and  it  is  a  strength  of  Jehovah's,  founded  in  his 
justice.  As  a  poor  guilty  sinner,  thou  couldest  have  nothing 
to  plead  but  free  grace  and  rich  mercy.  But  when  thou 
comest  in  Jesus,  thy  Surety's  righteousness,  thou  mayest  ap- 
peal, and  art  expected  so  to  do,  to  God's  holiness  and  his 
justice  also.  Oh!  how  sweet  the  assurance,  how  unanswer- 
able the  plea,  how  secure  the  event !  Jesus  hath  fulfilled  the 
law — Jesus  hath  paid  the  penalty  of  justice ;  and  God  hath 
promised  to  pardon  and  bless  his  seed,  his  redeemed  in  him. 
Hence  the  apostle  Paul,  in  the  contemplation  of  death  and 
judgment,  while  looking  at  his  everlasting  security  in  Jesus, 
cries  out — "  Henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of 
righteousness,  which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  Judge,  shall 
give  me  at  that  day ;  and  not  to  me  only,  but  unto  all  them 
that  love  his  appearing."  Behold  then,  my  soul,  thy  vast 
privilege;  and  when,  like  Job,  thou  art  desiring  to  approach 
a  throne  of  grace  now,  or  looking  forward  to  a  throne  of 
judgment  hereafter — never,  never  for  a  moment  forget  that 
this  is  the  way,  and  the  only  way,  (for  a  blessed  sure  way  it 
is,)  of  maintaining  communion  with  God  in  Christ.  Thy 
God,  thy  Father,  will  net  plead  against  a  righteousness  of 
his  own  appointing ;  but  he  will  put  Jesus,  his  strength,  in 
thee.     Hallelujah. 

20. — Thine  eyes  shall  see  the  King  in  his  beauty. — Isaiah  xxxiii.  17. 

Who,  my  soul,  but  Jesus  could  be  intended  by  this  sweet 
promise  ?  And  who  is  beautiful  and  lovely  in  thine  eyes  but 
him  %  There  was  no  beauty  in  him,  while  thou  wert  in  a 
state  of  unrenewed  nature,  that  thou  shouldest  desire  him  ; 
neither  can  anj-  man  truly  love  him,  until  that  a  soul  is  made 
light  in  the  Lord.  Is  Jesus  then  lovely  to  thee  ?  Hast  thou 
seen  him  ?  Dost  thou  now  know  him,  love  him,  behold  him, 
as  altogether  fair,  and  the  chiefest  among  ten  thousand  ?  Then, 
surely,  this  promise  hath  been,  and  is,  continually  fulfilled  in 
thy  experience.  Hast  thou  so  seen  him,  as  to  be  in  love  with 
him,  and  to  have  all  thine  affections  drawn  forth  toward  him  ? 
Dost  thou,  my  soul,  so  behold  him,  as  to  admire  him,  and  love 
him,  above  all ;  and  so  to  love  him,  as  never  to  be  satisfied 
without  him  ?     Moreover — hast  thou  seen  this  King  in  his 


MARCH.  67 

beauty,  in  his  fulness,  riches,  and  suitableness,  to  thee  as  a  Sa- 
viour ?  Surely,  blessed  Jesus !  there  are  not  only  glorious, 
precious  excellencies  in  thee,  and  thine  own  Divine  Person, 
which  command  the  love  and  affection  of  every  beholder,  as 
thou  art  in  thyself;  but  there  is  a  beauty  indeed  in  thee,  con- 
sidered as  thou  art  held  forth  by  our  God  and  Father,  in  all 
thy  suitableness  to  thy  people.  In  thy  beauty,  blessed  Lord, 
there  is  to  be  seen  a  fulness  of  grace,  and  truth,  and  righteous- 
ness, exactly  corresponding  to  the  wants  of  poor  sinners — 
thy  blood  to  cleanse,  thy  grace  to  comfort,  thy  fulness  to  sup- 
ply ;  in  thee,  there  is  every  thing  we  can  want — life,  light, 
joy,  pardon,  mercy,  peace,  happiness  here,  glory  hereafter. 
And  do  I  not  see  thee,  thou  King  in  thy  beauty !  indeed, 
when  I  behold  thee  as  coming  with  all  these  far  my  supply  ? 
So  that,  under  the  enjoyment  of  the  whole,  I  feel  constained 
to  cry  out,  with  one  of  old,  "  I  will  love  thee,  O  Lord,  my 
strength.  The  Lord  is  my  strength  and  my  song  ;  and  he  is 
become  my  salvation."'  Neither  is  this  all:  for  in  beholding 
the  King  in  his  beauty,  I  behold  him  also  in  his  love.  Yes, 
blessed  Lord !  thou  art  indeed  most  beautiful  and  lovely ;  for 
thou  hast  so  loved  poor  sinners  as  to  give  thyself  for  them  ; 
and  the  conscious  sense  that  our  love  to  thee  did  not  first  be- 
gin, but  thine  to  us  was  the  first  cause  for  exciting  ours,  and 
the  shedding  forth  that  love  in  our  hearts,  by  thy  blessed 
Spirit,  first  prompted  our  minds  to  look  unto  thee,  makes  thee 
lovely  indeed.  And  now,  Lord,  every  day's  view  of  thee  in- 
creaseth  that  love,  and  brings  home  thy  beauty  more  and 
more.  The  more  frequent  thou  condescendest  to  visit  my 
poor  soul,  the  more  beautiful  dost  thou  appear.  Every  re- 
newed manifestation,  every  view,  every  glimpse,  of  Jesus, 
must  tend  to  make  my  God  and  King  more  gracious  and 
lovely  to  my  soul,  and  add  fresh  fervour  to  my  love.  Come 
then,  thou  blessed,  holy,  lovely  One,  and  ravish  my  spiritual 
senses  with  thy  beauty,  that  I  may  daily  get  out  of  love  with 
every  thing  of  created  excellency,  and  my  whole  soul  be  filled 
only  with  the  love  of  Jesus :  until,  from  seeing  thee  here  be- 
low, through  the  mediums  of  ordinances  and  grace,  I  come  to 
look  upon  thee,  and  live  for  ever  in  thy  presence,  in  the  full 
beams  of  thy  glory  in  thy  throne  above. 

21. — Truly  our  fellowship  is  with  the  Father,  and  with  his  Son  Jesus 
Christ. — 1  John  i.  3. 

Precious,  blessed  consideration  !     Art  thou,  my  soul,  at 
this  time  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  it  ?  Pause  over  the  inquiry. 


68  MORNING   PORTION. 

Sometimes  for  the  want  of  this  search  of  soul,  and  the  neglect 
of  it,  deadness,  or  at  least  leanness,  creeps  in.  Say  then,  my 
soul,  how  ait  thou  dealing  with  thy  God  ;  and  how  is  thy 
God  dealing  with  thee?  When  were  his  latest  manifesta- 
tions ?  When  did  he  take  thee  to  his  banqueting-house  ;  or, 
when  didst  thou  sit  under  his  shadow  ?  Hast  thou  very  lately 
heard  his  voice,  saying,  "  Fear  not,  I  am  thy  salvation  ?" 
The  discovery  of  these  things  are  among  the  sweetest  ex- 
ercises which  flow  from  the  indweUing  Spirit.  Go  on  fur- 
ther in  the  inquiry — How  art  thou  seeking  with  thy  God  ? 
When  hadst  thou  fellowship  and  communion  with  the  Fa- 
ther, and  with  his  Son,  Jesus  Christ  ?  What  petitions  hast 
thou  now  awaiting  for  answers  from  the  heavenly  court? 
What  grateful  acknowledgements  have  lately  gone  up  for 
mercies  received  ?  How  is  thine  acquaintance  there  advanc- 
ing? How  art  thou  growing  in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge 
of  thy  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ?  If  these  things  are 
neglected  by  thee,  will  not  a  strangeness  between  thy  God 
and  thee  come  on  ;  such  as  is  induced  by  earthly  friendships, 
when  absence  and  time,  where  there  is  no  correspondence 
kept  up,  wears  out  remembrance  ?  My  soul !  rouse  up  and 
consider  the  vast  importance  of  keeping  up  constant  inter- 
course with  thy  God  and  Saviour.  Precious  Jesus  !  do  thou 
keep  the  flame  of  love  alive ;  manifest  to  my  soul  the  cer- 
tainty and  reality  of  my  union  with  thee,  thou  sweet  Saviour, 
by  causing  this  blessed  communion  to  be  constant,  unceasing, 
and  full  of  divine  communications.  Let  thy  Spirit  call  forth 
in  me  the  exercise  of  the  graces  he  hath  planted ;  and  do 
thou  come  forth  in  refreshing  manifestations  of  love  ;  so  that, 
while  prayers  go  up,  blessings  may  come  down  ;  and  while 
thou  art  graciously  saying,  "  Seek  ye  my  face,"  my  heart 
may  say  unto  thee,  "  Thy  face.  Lord,  will  I  seek."  Oh  the 
blessedness  of  such  a  life  !  to  break  the  power  of  sin  ;  to  re- 
vive and  strengthen  the  spirits  ;  to  open  and  enlarge  to  my 
view  the  discoveries  of  thy  Person,  thy  glory,  thy  riches,  thy 
suitableness,  thine  all-sufficiency  !  If,  dearest  Jesus  !  thou 
wilt  mercifully  keep  this  fellowship,  this  partnership,  alive  in 
my  soul,  how  will  my  poor  soul  be  living  upon  thee,  and 
with  thee  ;  and  how  shall  I  be  exchanging  with  thee  all  my 
leanness,  poverty,  wretchedness,  and  weakness,  for  thy  ful- 
ness, riches,  righteousness,  and  strength.  Come  then.  Lord 
Jesus !  and  until  the  day  break,  and  the  shadows  flee  away. 
"  turn,  my  beloved,  and  be  thou  like  a  roe,  or  a  young  hart, 
upon  the  mountains  of  Bether !" 


MARCH.  69 

22. — Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  I  remember  thee,  the  kindness  of  tliy  youth, 
the  love  of  thine  espousals,  when  thou  wentest  after  me  in  the  wil- 
derness, in  a  land  that  was  not  sown. — Jeremiah  ii.  2. 

Pause,  my  soul,  over  this  condescending  token  of  God's 
love  to  Israel,  and  see  whether  it  doth  not  hold  forth  to  thee  a 
blessed  portion  for  thy  encouragement.  Israel  had  been 
most  undeserving;  but  yet  the  Lord,  would  put  Israel  in  re- 
membrance, by  assuring  his  people  that  he  remembered  their 
love.  When  God  first  formed  Israel  into  a  people — when 
he  led  them  into  the  wilderness,  and  married  Israel,  they 
sung  the  praise  of  Jehovah  in  their  love  songs,  on  the  day  of 
their  espousals.  "Now,"  saith  the  Lord,  "I  remember  thee 
in  these  things  ;  for  these  were  tokens  of  affection,  when  thou 
wentest  after  me,  in  following  the  pillar  of  cloud  through  the 
desert ;  in  trusting  to  a  harvest,  though  as  yet  the  land  was 
not  sown."  And  may  I.  blessed  Lord,  sweetly  interpret  this 
precious  portion  with  application  to  myself,  as  though  my  God 
so  spake  to  me  of  the  day  of  my  espousals  ?  Doth  my  God 
and  Saviour  remember  me  in  the  first  awakenings  of  his 
grace,  when  at  the  first  mention  of  his  name,  my  soul  made 
me  like  the  chariots  of  Amminadib  ?  Well,  then,  may  my  soul 
remember  thee,  oh  thou  God  of  my  salvation  ?  The  saviour 
of  thy  past  love  and  past  experiences  gives  now,  at  this  mo- 
ment, new  delight  to  my  soul,  and  awakens  new  desires  of 
communion  with  my  God.  The  very  recollection  of  what  I 
then  was,  and  how  thou  calledst  me,  and  made  my  time  a  time 
of  love  ;  and  how  thou  passedst  by,  and  didst  bid  me  live,  and 
didst  cleanse  me,  and  take  me  home,  and  betrothedst  me  to 
thyself,  and  made  me  thine  for  ever ;  the  very  thoughts  re- 
fresh my  soul  now  ;  and  these  former  experiences  drive  away 
present  distresses  and  despondency  !  How  is  it  my  soul, 
with  thee  now  ?  Art  thou  less  in  frame — less  in  love  ?  Hast 
thou  not  the  same  earnest  liking  to  Jesus  now,  as  then  1  Is 
the  strength  of  thy  love,  and  desires,  and  delights,  abated? 
Look  at  this  blessed  Scripture.  Hear  what  God  saith  to  Is- 
rael, in  a  time  of  Israel's  coldness.  See  how  God's  love  was 
not  changed,  though  Israel's  was  so  abated.  Art  thou,  my 
soul,  conscious  of  the  same  ?  Art  thou  lamenting  it ;  desir- 
ing, waiting  for  some  renewed  token  of  thy  Jesus'  love?  Is 
his  name,  his  Person,  his  righteousness,  still  precious  ?  Dost 
thou  wait  but  for  the  whispers  of  his  grace  ?  See,  here  it  is 
— "  I  remember,  though  thou  hast  forgotten,  the  day  of  thine 
espousals!"  Oh  !  the  wonderful  condescension  of  the  Son  of 
God  !     Behold,  my  soul,  how,  in  this  very  way,  how  prepar- 


70  MOPwNING   PORTION. 

ing  thine  heart  for  the  renewings  of  his  love,  and  his  sweet 
manifestations  towards  thee !  Oh  !  cry  out  with  the  church 
of  old,  under  similar  circumstances,  "  Draw  me ;  we  will 
run  after  thee."  Unless  thou  drawest,  Lord,  the  distance  will 
remain  ;  but  the  desire  of  being  drawn  shows  the  earnestness 
for  union.  Lord,  I  beseech  thee,  do  this  ;  bring  me  near  to 
thyself,  to  thine  everlasting  embraces:  then  shall  I  run,  nay, 
even  flee  to  my  beloved,  and  will  hang  upon  thee  as  the 
vessel  hangeth  on  the  nail,  and  dwell,  and  remain,  with  thee 
for  ever. 


23. — By  his  own  blood  he  entered  in  once  into  the  holy  place,  having 
obtained  eternal  redemption  for  us. — Heb.  ix.  12. 

Ponder,  my  soul,  these  solemn  expressions  concerning 
thy  Jesus.  Mark,  in  them,  their  vast  contents.  Jesus,  as  a 
Prophet,  hath  revealed  his  salvation  :  as  a  Priest,  he  alone 
hath  procured  it,  and  offered  it  up  to  God  and  the  Father : 
and,  as  a  King,  he  ever  lives  and  reigns  to  see  its  efficacy 
fully  accomplished  in  all  his  redeemed,  being  made  partakers 
of  it.  Behold  in  this  his  priestly  office,  both  as  an  High- 
Priest  and  as  the  Sacrifice,  what  he  hath  wrought,  and  what 
he  hath  accomplished  ;  even  eternal  redemption.  Mark,  my 
soul,  the  several  volumes  of  mercy  comprised  in  it.  First — 
Of  man's  revolt  from  God.  Secondly — The  deadly  breach 
by  reason  thereof  Thirdly — The  proclamation  from  Heaven, 
of  God's  determined  purpose  to  take  vengeance  of  sin. 
Fourthly — Man's  total  inability  to  appease  the  divine  wrath, 
either  by  doing  or  suffering.  Fifthly — Divine  grace,  in  the 
love  of  the  Father,  permitting  a  substitute,  competent  to  do 
this  great  act  of  salvation,  for  men ;  and  appointing  and  con- 
stituting no  less  a  Person  than  his  dear  Son  to  the  accom- 
plishment of  it.  Sixthly — Jesus,  the  Son  of  God,  voluntarily 
giving  himself  an  offering  and  a  sacrifice  for  sin,  and  by  that 
one  offering  of  himself,  once  offered,  for  ever  perfecting  them 
that  are  sanctified.  Seventhly — Having  thus  accomplished 
the  purpose  of  salvation  upon  earth.  Jesus  is  now  by  his  own 
blood  entered  into  the  holy  place,  to  make  the  whole  effectual 
by  the  exercise  of  his  priestly  office  in  heaven.  And  lastly^ 
to  add  no  more — God  accepting  and  confirming  his  perfect 
approbation  of  the  whole,  and  now  proclaiming  peace  on 
earth,  good-will  towards  men.  Ponder  over  these  grand, 
these  glorious,  these  momentous  subjects,  my  soul,  this  day ! 
Take  them  about  with  thee  wheresoever  thou   goest ;    fold 


MARCH.  71 

them  in  thy  bosom ;  write  them  on  the  tablets  of  thine  heart ; 
let  them  arise  with  thee,  and  lay  down  with  thee.  And,  in 
all  thine  approaches  to  the  mercy-seat,  behold  Him,  and  let 
him  never  be  lost  to  the  view  of  the  eye  of  faith,  by  whom 
the  whole  is  wrought,  and  of  whom  this  sweet  Scripture 
speaks ;  who  "  by  his  own  blood  entered  in  once  into  the 
holy  place,  having  obtained  eternal  redemption  for  us." 

24. — I  in  them,  and  thou  in  me,  that  they  may  be  made  perfect  in  one 
John  xvii.  23. 

Think,  my  soul,  to  what  a  trancendent  honour,  to  what  a 
state  of  unspeakable  happiness,  the  truly  regenerated  believer 
in  Jesus  is  begotten.  Who  shall  declare  it ;  what  heart  shall 
fully  conceive  it !  Mark,  my  soul,  how  graciously  thy  Re- 
deemer hath  pointed  it  out,  in  those  sweet  words.  Observe 
the  foundation  of  the  whole,  in  that  glorious  mystery  of  union 
between  the  Father  and  the  Son.  This  is  at  the  bottom  of 
all  our  mercies,  and  becomes  the  source  and  spring  of  every 
other.  "  Thou  in  ?we,"  saith  Jesus ;  not  only  as  One  in  the 
nature  and  essence  of  the  Godhead,  in  a  sameness  of  nature, 
of  design,  of  will,  of  perfections,  and  in  all  the  attributes  which 
constitute  the  distinguishing  properties  of  Jehovah  :  but  pecu- 
liarly as  Mediator,  the  Head  of  his  church  and  people,  in 
communicating  all  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead  to  dwell  bodily 
in  Jesus  as  the  Glory-man,  the  God-man,  the  Anointed  of 
God.  Thus,  being  one  with  Christ,  and  dwelling  in  Christ, 
in  such  a  way  and  manner  as  the  Godhead  never  did,  and 
never  can,  dwell  in  any  other.  And  as  Jesus  is  thus  One 
with  the  Father  in  the  essence  of  the  Godhead,  and  all  Father 
in  him,  dwelling  in  him,  and  being  in  him,  in  the  work  of 
redemption,  as  Mediator — so  is  Jesus  One  in  the  nature  of  the 
manhood,  with  all  his  mystical  members.  "  /  in  them^^^  saith 
Christ,  '•  as  thou  art  in  me."  Jesus  is  the  Head  of  his  body 
the  church,  and  he  is  their  fulness ;  and  they  members  of 
his  body,  of  his  flesh,  and  of  his  bones.  Hence  result  the 
blessed  effects  which  his  redeemed  all  derive  from  him,  that 
they  may  be  made  perfect  in  one.  Sweet  and  precious  thought ! 
In  Jesus  they  are  made  perfect.  From  him  they  derive  per- 
fection. As  one  with  him,  they  are  counted  and  beheld  per- 
fect before  God  ;  and  by  him  they  will  be  found  so  to  all 
eternity.  And  what  particularly  endears  this  view,  this  lovely 
view,  of  the  believer's  perfection  in  Christ  Jesus,  is  this  ;  that 
every  individual  member  of  Jesus'  mystical  body,  is  all  alike 


MORNING    PORTION. 


equally  interested  in  this  perfection  in  Jesus.  For  as  it  is 
from  the  same  Spirit  dwelling  in  them  all,  that  they  are 
quickened  to  this  spiritual  life  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  are  all  of 
them  made  living  members,  and  united  to  Jesus,  their  own 
glorious  Head  ;  so  there  must  be  an  equally  near  and  dear 
union  to  Jesus,  and  to  one  another.  Delightful  consideration  ! 
As  the  Apostle  reasons  upon  another  consideration,  "  The 
eye  cannot  say  to  the  hand,  I  have  no  need  of  thee ;  nor  the 
foot  say,  because  I  am  not  the  hand,  I  am  not  of  the  body." 
In  Jesus  they  are  all  one ;  neither  can  any  touch  the  least  of 
his  people,  no  more  than  the  apple  of  his  eye,  without  touch- 
ing him.  Is  it  so.  my  soul?  And  art  thou  one  with  Jesus, 
one  with  the  glorious  Head,  one  with  the  precious  Members  1 
Hast  thou  communion  in  all  that  concerns  Christ ;  commu- 
nion and  interest  in  his  Person  ;  communion  in  his  righteous- 
ness ;  communion  in  his  life,  in  his  death,  in  his  resurrection, 
in  his  church,  in  his  people,  in  his  ordinances,  in  all  that  con- 
cerns Jesus  !  Oh  !  then,  rest  assured  that  thou  shalt  have  an 
everlasting  communion,  and  nothing  shall  separate  thee  from 
Jesus — neither  in  time  nor  to  all  eternity.  Go  down,  my 
body,  go  down  to  the  grave  with  this  perfect  confidence — 
that  if  the  Spirit  of  him  that  raised  up  Jesus  from  the  dead 
dwell  in  you,  he  that  raised  up  Christ  from  the  dead  shall 
also  quicken  your  mortal  body,  by  his  Spirit  that  dwelleth  in 
you. 

25. — The  mercy  promised. — Luke  i.  72. 

The  mercy  promised !  Why,  God  graciously  promised 
many  mercies,  and  most  faithfully  and  fullj'-  performed  them. 
Yes  !  every  thing  out  of  hell  may  well  be  called  a  merc}^ 
Every  child  of  Adam  beaveth  about  with  him,  day  by  day, 
tokens  of  God's  mercy.  The  air  we  breathe,  the  garments 
we  put  on,  the  food  v/e  eat ;  all  the  comforts,  conveniences, 
enjoyments  of  life  ;  these  are  all  mercies.  But  none  of  these 
are  what  the  sweet  portion  of  the  morning  points  at  It  is 
here  a  particular,  a  special,  one  specific  mercy.  And  who 
can  this  mean,  my  soul,  but  Jesus,  thy  Jesus  ?  He  is  indeed 
the  mercy  promised  ;  the  first  mercy,  the  first  promise  ;  the 
first,  best,  and  comprehensive  gift  of  God  in  the  Bible.  He 
is  indeed  the  mercy  of  mercies,  the  first-born,  the  sum  and 
substance  of  every  other.  He  is  essential  to  make  all  other 
mercies  really  and  truly  mercies ;  for,  without  him,  they  ulti- 


MARCH.  73 

mately  prove  injurious.  He  is  essential  to  put  a  sweetness, 
to  give  a  relish,  a  value,  an  importance,  to  every  other. 
Where  Jesus  is,  there  is  mercy ;  where  Jesus  is  not,  what 
can  profit  1  My  soul !  hast  thou  considered  this  1  Dost  thou 
know  it?  Is  Jesus  thine?  Is  this  mercy  promised,  really, 
truly  given  to  thee?  Hast  thou  taken  him  home  to  thine 
house,  to  thine  heart?  Pause!  If  it  be  so,  how  dost  thou 
value  him,  know  him,  use  him,  live  to  him,  walk  with  him, 
hope  in  him,  rejoice  in  him,  and  make  him  thine  all  ?  Hast 
thou  received  him  as  a  free  mercy,  an  undeserved  mercy? 
Hast  thou  accepted  him  as  so  seasonable  a  mercy,  that,  with- 
out him,  thou  wouldest  have  been  undone  for  ever?  Is  he 
now  so  truly  satisfying  to  thee  in  all  thy  desires,  for  time  and 
for  eternit}^,  that  thou  canst  bid  adieu  to  every  enjoyment  if 
needful ;  and,  looking  up  to  Jesus,  canst  truly  say,  ^'  Whom 
have  I  in  heaven  but  thee  ?  and  there  is  none  upon  earth  that 
I  desire  beside  thee  !"  Oh  !  my  soul !  if  this  be  thy  portion, 
then  hast  thou  a  Benjamin's  portion  indeed  !  God  thy  Father 
hath  given  thee  indeed  the  mercy  promised  ;  and  Jesus  is, 
and  will  be,  thy  mercy,  and  the  mercy  of  all  mercies,  to  all 
eternity.     Amen. 

26. — Thy  lips,  O  my  spouse,  drop  as  the  honey-comb. — Song  iv.  11. 

While  Jesus  is  so  precious  to  his  people,  that  they  seek 
him  in  every  thing  that  is  lovely,  and  indeed  can  discover 
nothing  to  be  lovely  until  they  have  found  Jesus  in  it,  what 
an  endearment  is  it  to  the  soul  of  a  believer,  when  he  dis- 
covers Jesus  looking  upon  him,  eyeing  him,  and  even  com- 
mending Jesus'  own  graces,  which  he  hath  imparted  to  the 
soul,  brought  out  into  exorcise  again  by  the  influences  of  his 
own  holy  Spirit.  Aly  soul !  canst  thou  really  be  led  to  be- 
lieve that  Jesus  is  speaking  to  his  church,  to  his  fair  one,  his 
spouse,  to  every  individual  soul  of  his  redeemed  and  regene- 
rated ones,  in  those  swoel  words  of  the  Song?  Doth  Jesus, 
the  Son  of  God,  call  thee  his  spouse;  and  doth  he  say  thy 
lips  drop  as  the  honey-comb?  Pause,  my  soul,  and  ponder 
over  these  gracious  words  of  thy  God.  By  thy  lips,  no 
doubt,  Jesus  means  thy  words ;  of  which  Solomon  saith — 
"  Pleasant  words  are  as  an  honey-comb,  sweet  to  the  soul, 
and  health  to  the  bones."  Prov.  xvi.  24.  Do  thy  lips  drop 
in  prayer,  in  praise,  in  conversation,  in  Christian  fellowship, 
in  ordinances,  and  in  all  the  ordinary  intercourse  of  life? 
Is  Jesus  thy  one  theme ;  his  name,  his  love,  his  grace,  his 

7 


74  MORNING    PORTION. 

work,  his  salvation  ;  what  he  hath  done,  what  he  hath 
wrought ;  how  he  hath  loved,  how  he  hath  lived,  how  he 
hath  died,  how  he  now  lives  again  to  appear  in  the  presence 
of  God  for  his  people ;  and  to  give  out  his  fulness,  his  mer- 
cies, his  treasures  ;  in  visits,  in  manifestations,  and  the  ten 
thousand  numberless,  nameless,  ways  by  which  he  proves 
himself  to  be  Jesus  1  Do  thy  lips,  my  soul,  drop  in  these 
topics  when  thou  walkest  by  the  way,  when  thou  liest  down, 
when  thou  risest  up ;  and  when  thou  goest  in  before  the 
presence  of  God,  in  the  public  worship  of  the  temple,  or  the 
private  closet  where  no  eye  seeth  thee  but  Him  that  seeth  in 
secret?  And  doth  thy  Jesus  really  mark  these  things'? 
Doth  he  condescend  to  notice  his  poor  creature,  and  to  esteem 
these  droppings  as  the  sweetness  of  the  honey?  Precious 
God !  prfecious  Jesus  !  what  a  love  is  here.  Oh !  for  grace, 
for  love,  for  life,  for  every  suited  gift  of  my  God  and  Saviour  ; 
that  my  lips,  from  the  abundance  of  the  heart,  may  drop 
indeed  as  the  honey-comb — sweetly,  freely,  not  by  constraint, 
except  the  constraint  of  thy  love  ;  but  constantly,  unceasingly, 
for  ever,  as  the  drops  of  the  honey-comb  which  follow  one 
another  ;  that  prayer  may  follow  praise,  and  praise  succeed 
to  prayer  ;  and  that  there  may  be  a  succession. in  magnifying 
and  adoring  the  riches  of  grace  ;  that  the  name  of  Jesus 
may  be  always  in  my  mouth ;  and  from  that  one  blessed 
source,  that  Jesus  lives  in  my  heart,  and  rules,  and  reigns, 
and  is  ormed  there  the  hope  of  glory. 

27. — The  trumpet  of  the  jubilee. — Levit.  xxv.  9. 

My  soul !  pause  over  the  subject  of  the  jubilee  trumpet ; 
for  surely  much  of  gospel  Avas  proclaimed  by  it.  It  should 
seem  that  there  were  four  distinct  and  special  sounds  of  the 
trumpet  in  the  camp  of  Israel.  The  trumpet  of  memorials 
so  called,  (Levit.  xxiii.  24,)  was  blown  on  the  occasion  of 
the  new  moon,  calling  the  people  to  the  joyful  assembly, 
Psalm.  Ixxxi.  3.  There  was  also  the  fast  trumpet,  of  which 
the  prophet  sccaks,  Joel  ii.  1.  Besides  these,  the  7^ar  trumpet 
gave  a  certain  sound  to  prepare  to  battle,  1  Cor.  xiv.  8.  And 
this  of  "he  jubilee,  which  differed  from  all.  And  akhough 
the  jubilee  trumpet  was  never  heard  but  once  in  fifty  years, 
yel  sc  sweet  and  so  distinguishing  was  the  sound,  that  no 
poor  captive,  among  the  servants  in  the  camp  of  Israel,  was 
at  ?.  moment's  loss  to  understand  its  gracious  meaning.  Say, 
*^'.'  soul,  is  no^  the  gospel  sound,  when  first  heard  by  the 


MARCH.  tS 

ear  of  faith,  precisely  the  same?  When  pardon  was  first 
proclaimed  to  thee  by  the  blood  of  Christ,  and  the  day  of  his 
atonement  so  manifested  to  thy  spiritual  senses,  that  the  cap- 
tivit}'-  of  sin  and  Satan  lost  their  powers  upon  thee,  was  not 
this  indeed  the  jubilee  trumpet,  and  the  acceptable  year  of  the 
Lord  ?  Hast  thou  heard  this  joyful  sound  ?  Hath  the  Son 
of  God  made  thee  free?  Hath  Jesus  caused  thee  to  return  to 
thy  long-lost,  long-forfeited,  inheritance?  And  wilt  thou  ever 
forget  the  unspeakable  mercy  ?  Hail !  thou  Almighty  De- 
liverer, thou  Redeemer  of  thy  captives  !  I  had  sold  my  pos- 
session, sold  myself,  for  nought;  and  thou  hast  redeemed  it 
for  me  again  without  money.  1  had  sold  it  indeed,  but  could 
not  alienate  it  for  ever,  because  the  right  of  redemption  was 
with  thee.  Yes,  blessed  Jesus  !  thou  art  He  whom  thy 
brethren  shall  praise.  Thou  art  the  next  of  kin,  the  nearest 
of  all  relations,  and  the  dearest  of  all  brothers !  And  thou 
hast  redeemed  both  soul  and  body,  both  lands  and  inheritance, 
by  thy  blood  ;  and  so  redeemed  the  whole,  as  never  more  to 
be  lost  again  or  forfeited  for  ever.  And  now  Lord,  thy 
jubilee  trumpet  sounds;  and  the  proclamation  of  the  ever- 
lasting gospel  is  heard  in  our  land,  to  give  liberty  to  the 
captive,  sight  to  the  blind,  to  bring  the  prisoners  out  of  the 
prison,  and  them  that  sit  in  darkness  out  of  the  prison  house  ! 
Oh  !  cause  me  to  know  the  joyful  sound,  and  daily  to  walk 
in  the  light  of  thy  countenance.  Cause  me,  by  the  sweet 
influences  of  thy  spirit,  to  live  in  the  constant  expectation  of 
the  year  of  the  everlasting  jubilee,  when  the  trumpet  of  the 
archangel  shall  finally  sound,  and  all  thy  redeemed  shall 
then  return  to  Zion,  with  songs  of  everlasting  joy  upon  their 
heads ;  Avhen  they  shall  obtain  joy  and  gladness,  and  sorrow 
and  sighing  shall  flee  away.     Hallelujah  ! 


28. — For  where  a  testament  is,  there  must  also  of  necessity  be  the  death 
of  the  testator  ;  for  a  testament  is  of  force  after  men  are  dead,  other- 
wise it  is  of  no  strength  at  all  whilst  the  testator  liveth. — Heh. 
ix.  16,  17. 

Behold,  my  soul,  how  graciously  the  Holy  Ghost  hath 
here  represented  the  necessity  of  Jesus'  death,  in  order  that 
the  testament  or  will  he  left  behmd  him,  might  have  the 
intended  effect ;  and  all  the  benefits  and  blessings  he  be- 
queathed in  it  to  his  people,  might  be  fully  paid  and  made 
over  to  them  for  their  present  peace  and  everlasting  happiness. 
Now,  my  soul,  mark  down,  for  tliis  day's  special  meditation, 


76  MORNING   POE.TION. 

the  many  precious  things  here  contained.  Observe  how  very- 
accommodating  the  Holy  Ghost  is,  to  explain  to  thee  divine 
things,  by  the  similitude  of  human  transactions.  As  a  man 
makes  his  will,  so  Jesus  made  his.  As  what  a  man  gives  is 
altogether  a  free  and  voluntary  act,  so  Jesus  w^as  not  con- 
strained by  what  he  gave  in  his  blessed  will ;  but  the  whole 
was  the  result  of  his  own  free,  gracious,  and  everlasting  love. 
And  as  a  man  must  die  before  his  will  can  be  put  in  force, 
so  Jesus  must,  and  did  die,  that  his  testament  and  will  might 
have  the  full  eifect  also.  But  there  is  one  sweet  point  more 
to  be  taken  into  this  account,  in  which,  my  soul,  thy  Jesus 
hath  infinitely  surpassed  all  men  in  this  article  of  their  wills. 
When  a  man  dies,  he  appoints  by  will  an  executor,  to  whom 
he  must  trust  the  management  of  all  his  effects  after  his  de- 
cease :  and  should  this  executor  prove  unfaithful,  his  best 
designs  for  those  he  loved,  when  living,  may  all  fail  of  the 
end  when  he  is  dead.  Now  here  lies  the  sweetness  of  Jesus' 
will: — He  not  only  made  the  will,  but  he  himself  will  see  it 
fully  executed  ;  for  as  he  died  once,  in  order  that  by  his  death 
his  will  might  be  confirmed,  so  he  ever  liveth  to  see  the  whole 
of  his  blessed  gifts  and  legacies  paid.  Precious,  precious 
Jesus !  how  sure  then  is  thy  will,  and  the  certainty  of  every 
tittle  of  it  being  fulfilled.  Now,  my  soul,  there  are  two  grand 
things  which  concern  thee  to  inquire  concerning  the  will  of 
the  Lord  Jesus.  The  first  is,  whether  thou  hast  any  interest 
in  it?  And  the  second  is,  what  the  Lord  Jesus  hath  left 
behind  him  ?  Recollect,  my  soul,  that  in  this  instance,  as  in 
the  former,  when  men  make  their  wills,  it  is  to  dispose  of  their 
effects  to  their  relations,  their  friends,  their  families.  Jesus 
also  hath  his  relations,  his  friends,  and  his  family.  Yes ! 
thou  dear  Lord !  thou  condescendest  to  call  thy  people  thy 
spouse,  thy  brethren,  thy  children,  thy  jewels,  thy  redeemed  ! 
My  soul !  dost  thou  claim  relationship  to  Jesus?  Canst  thou 
prove,  or  hast  thou  proved,  his  will  ?  Is  Jesus  thine  husband  ? 
Hath  he  betrotlied  thee  to  himself?  Again — Hast  thou  the 
marks  of  a  child  in  God's  family  ?  Art  thou  born  again  ? 
Again — if  you  are  his,  then  hast  thou  his  Spirit ;  for  he  that 
is  joined  to  the  Lord  is  one  Spirit.  If  you  are  a  child  of 
God,  and  a  joint-heir  with  Christ,  then  art  thou  under  his 
divine  leadings  ;  for  as  many  as  are  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God, 
they  are  the  sons  of  God.  If  thou  hast  these  marks  of  rela- 
tionship, thou  mayest  safely  look  for  his  gifts.  Surely  Jesus 
hath  remembered  in  his  legacies  his  spouse,  his  children. 
And  oh !  what  an  inventory  wilt  thou  find,  my  soul,  under 


MARCH.  77 

the  second,  inquiry,  when  thou  hast  fully  proved  the  first ! 
Oh  !  what  legacies,  what  gifts,  what  an  inheritance,  art  thou 
entitled  to  by  the  will  of  Jesus !  All  temporal  blessings,  all 
spiritual  blessings,  all  eternal  blessings!  Pardon,  mercy, 
peace,  in  the  blood  of  his  cross ;  the  sweet  enjoyment  of  all 
providences  in  this  life,  and  the  sure  possession  of  everlasting 
happiness  in  that  which  is  to  come  !  Oh  !  how  true  was  it, 
my  God  and  Saviour,  when  thou  didst  say,  "  I  will  cause 
them  that  love  me  to  inherit  substance  !" 


29. — The  precious  ointment  upon  the  head  that  ran  down  upon  his 
beard,  even  Aaron's  beard,  that  went  down  to  the  skirts  of  his  gar- 
ment.— Psalm  cxxxiii.  2. 

My  soul,  behold,  in  the  anointing  here  set  forth  of  the 
Jewish  high-priest,  a  type  of  His  anointing  who  is  a  Priest 
for  ever,  and  a  Priest  upon  his  throne ;  and  while  looking  at 
Aaron,  say,  as  the  Lord  Jesus  did  upon  another  occasion 
concerning  Solomon,  "a  greater  than  Aaron  is  here."  It  is 
sweet,  very  sweet,  and  very  profitable,  to  behold  the  old 
church  shadowing  forth  the  new,  and  the  law  ministering  to 
the  gospel.  Yes,  blessed  Jesus  !  I  behold  in  Aaron,  and  in 
the  precious  ointment  poured  forth  upon  his  head,  thus  run- 
ning down  to  the  skirts  of  his  garments,  the  beautiful  repre- 
sentation of  that  fulness  of  the  Spirit,  which  was  poured  out 
on  thee  without  measure ;  that  from  thee  the  communication 
might  flow  down  to  the  poorest,  the  humblest,  the  lowest  of 
thy  members,  even  to  the  very  skirts  of  thy  clothing.  It 
pleased  the  Father  that  in  thee  should  all  fulness  dwell ;  that 
of  that  fulness  all  thy  people  might  receive,  and  grace  for 
grace.  And  by  virtue  of  our  interest  in  thee,  and  union 
with  thee,  all  thy  people  do  richly  partake  of  communion  in 
all  thy  benefits,  blessings,  mercies.  The  sun  shines  not  to 
itself,'nor  for  itself,  but  to  impart  light  and  life  to  others :  so 
dost  thou,  the  Son  of  Righteousness,  shine  forth  in  all  thy 
glory,  not  for  thyself,  but  to  bless,  and  enliven,  and  give  out 
of  all  thy  grace  and  fulness,  every  suited  blessing,  according 
to  the  measure  of  the  gift  of  Christ.  "My  soul !  bring  home 
these  precious  truths  to  the  conviction  of  experience.  Was 
Jesus,  indeed,  anointed  for  his  people?  Was  grace  poured 
into  his  lips?  Was  he,  like  Aaron,  so  installed  into  the 
office  of  the  priesthood,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  so  immeasurably 
communicated  to  him,  on  purpose  that  all  his  little  ones 
should  partake  of  this  unspeakable  gift  of  God  ?     Did  God 

7* 


78  MORNING    PORTION. 

the  Father  say  to  Jesus,  "  I  will  pour  my  Spirit  upon  thy 
seed,  and  my  blessing  upon  thine  offspring?"  Well  then,  my 
soul,  hast  thou  partaken  of  the  Holy  Spirit?  Hast  thou 
communion  with  Jesus  in  all  that  concerns  thy  salvation? 
A  child  of  God,  a  joint-heir  with  Christ,  and  a  soul  begotten 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  hath  interest  and  communion  in  all  that 
belongs  to  Jesus,  as  the  great  Head  and  Mediator  of  his 
church ;  interested  in  his  person,  interested  in  his  work,  in- 
terested in  his  righteousness,  in  his  life,  in  his  death,  in  his 
resurrection,  in  his  everlasting  priestly  office,  and  in  his 
everlasting  glory.  What  saith  my  soul  to  these  things  ?  Go, 
my  soul,  go  this  morning,  go  in  the  strength  of  this  interest, 
and  look  at  a  throne  of  grace,  within  the  vail,  whither  thy 
fore-runner  is  for  thee  entered ;  behold  thy  glorious  Aaron, 
wearing  the  priestly  vestments  still,  and  having  all  grace,  all 
fulness  ;  waiting  to  be  gracious,  and  to  impart  of  that  ful- 
ness to  thy  necessities  ;  and  having  received  gifts  for  men, 
yea,  for  thee,  the  most  rebellious,  that  the  Lord  God  might 
dwell  among  them.  Lord,  proportion  thy  mercies  to  my 
wants  ;  and,  as  the  day  is,  so  let  the  strength  be. 

30. — So  then  with  the  mind   I  myself  serve  the  law  of  God  ;  but  with 
the  flesh  the  law  of  sin. — Romans  vii.  25. 

Is  this  thy  language,  my  soul?  Hast  thou  learnt  with 
Paul,  with  Job,  with  Isaiah,  and  all  the  faithful  gone  before, 
to  loath  thyself  in  thine  own  sight?  Dost  thou  groan,  being 
burdened  with  a  body  of  sin  which  drags  down  the  soul  ? 
Pause  over  this  view  of  human  nature.  In  the  first  place — 
think,  my  soul,  what  humbling  thoughts  such  a  state  of  cor- 
ruption ought  to  induce.  Though  the  mind  be  regenerated, 
though  with  the  mind  the  believer  serves  the  law  of  God, 
delights  in  the  law  of  God,  loves  the  law,  and  would  make 
it  the  subject  of  devout  meditation  all  the  day ;  yet  such  is 
the  body  of  sin,  the  flesh,  with  its  affections,  and  appetites, 
and  desires,  that  it  draws  away  the  attention,  imperiously 
puts  in  its  claims,  and  rises  up  in  rebellion  continually.  And 
are  the  souls  of  God's  children  thus  exercised,  thus  afiiicted, 
in  the  struggles  between  the  different  motions  of  grace,  and 
corruption  from  day  to  day  ?  Yes !  such  is  the  state,  such 
the  uniform  experience  of  God's  people  in  all  ages.  Paul 
thus  complains,  though  he  had  been  so  highly  sanctified. 
Perhaps  there  never  was  a  child  of  God  brought  into  closer 
and  more  intimate  communion  with  God.      He  had  been 


MARCH.  79 

caught  up  to  the  third  heaven,  and  heard  unspeakable  words. 
He  had  laboured  more  than  all  the  apostles.  He  had  been 
converted  by  a  miracle  from  heaven,  and  by  the  immediate 
call  of  the  Lord  Jesus  personally  to  him.  But  yet  this  highly 
favoured  servant  of  the  Lord,  this  blessed  apostle,  who  was 
continually  flying  on  the  wings  of  zeal  and  love  in  the  ser- 
vice of  his  master,  even  he,  with  his  flesh,  he  tells  us,  served 
the  law  of  sin  :  nay,  he  felt  and  discovered  a  lav/  of  sin  in 
his  members,  warring  against  the  law  of  his  mind,  and 
bringing  him  into  captivity/  to  the  law  of  sin  which  was  in 
his  members ;  and  under  a  deep  distress  of  soul  he  cried  out 
— "  O  wretched  man  that  I  am,  who  shall  deliver  me  from 
the  body  of  this  death?"  Is  it  so  then,  my  soul,  with  thee 
also  ?  Dost  thou  discover  the  same  in  thy  experience  ?  Dost 
thou  feel  the  rebellions  of  sin  rising  up  within  thee?  Dost 
thou  detect  thine  heart,  wandering  even  in  the  moment  of 
solemn  exercises;  and,  in  short,  thine  own  body,  the  worst 
and  greatest  enemy  thou  hast  to  contend  with?  Oh!  then, 
learn  from  hence  what  humbling  views  oughtest  thou  to  have 
of  thyself,  and  to  lay  low  in  the  dust  in  consequence  thereof 
before  God.  When  thou  hast  fully  contemplated  this  state 
of  a  fallen  nature,  let  thy  next  improvement  of  this  subject  be 
to  endear  the  Lord  Jesus  to  thee,  my  soul,  more  and  more ; 
to  fly  out  of  thyself,  to  fly  to  Jesus,  to  take  refuge  in  him  and 
his  great  salvation ;  from  even  thyself,  with  all  that  body  of 
sin  and  death,  under  which  thou  thus  continually  groanest; 
and  to  derive  herefrom  a  daily  and  hourly  conviction  yet 
more  strong  and  unanswerably  conclusive,  that  nothing  but 
the  blood  of  Jesus  can  cleanse,  nothing  but  the  righteousness 
of  Jesus  can  save  and  justify  a  sinner.  Say  as  Paul  did, 
when  from  the  bottom  of  his  heart  that  soul-piercing  question 
arose,  "Who  shall  deliver  me  from  the  body  of  this  death? 
I  thank  God  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord." 

31. — Having  a  desire  to  depart,  and  to  be  with  Christ. — Phillipp.   i.  23. 

My  soul !  thou  hast  not,  I  hope,  dismissed  the  solemn 
thoughts  opened  to  thy  view  by  the  Scripture  of  yesterday. 
Surely,  since  that  last  morning,  thou  hast  had  but  too  many 
renewed  occasions  to  feel  the  truth  of  it.  Sin  is  not  only 
present  icith  thee  at  all  times,  but  in  thee,  and  as  inseparable 
from  thy  unrenewed  part,  as  the  shadow  from  the  substance. 
Thou  knowest  this,  thou  feelest  it,  thou  groanest  under  it ; 
and  the  consciousness  of  it  is,  in  itself,  enough  to  make  thee 


80  MORNING    PORTION. 

g-0  humbly  all  thy  days.     All  other  afflictions  are  nothing  to 
this  affliction  :  this,  like  the  ocean  compared  to  rivers,  sur- 
passeth  and  swalloweth  up  all.    It  is  indeed  a  soul-supporting 
thought,  (and,  blessed  be  God,  thou  feelest  the  sweetness  of 
it,)  that  under  all,  and  in  all,  Jesus  is  thy  hope.     And  while 
sin  is  always  present  with  thee,  Jesus,  thy  Advocate  and 
Propitiation,  is  present  for  thee  with  the  Father.    But  though 
in  Him  and  his  righteousness  accepted  and  secure,  yet  the 
consideration  how  much  thy  daily  short-comings  and  trans- 
gressions dishonour  God,  and  deprive  thee  of  comfort  here, 
is  matter  sufficient  to  make  thine  eyes  run  down  with  water, 
and  thine  heart  continually  to  mourn  before  the  mercy-seat. 
And  will  these  things  always  be  the  same  whilst  thou  ear- 
liest about  with  thee  this  body  of  sin  ?     Shall  this  perishing 
part  of  thine  be  always  so  unfavourable  to  the  sweet  and 
gracious  desires  of  the  soul?    Shall  I  never,  never  truly  and 
uninterruptedly  enjoy  Jesus,  until  the  body  is  dissolved,  and 
the  dust  returns  to  the  earth,  out  of  which  that  part  of  my 
nature  was  taken  ?    Pause,  my  soul,  and  say — Hast  thou  not 
then  a  desire  to  depart,  and  to  be  with  Christ?     Is  not  the 
grave,  in  this  view,  not  only  made  bearable,  but  even  desi- 
rable— nay,  even  pleasant  ?     What !  shall  I  never  be  wholly 
free  from  sin,  until  that  I  am  wholly  freed  from  the  body  ? 
Shall  I  never  be  secure  of  sweet  enjoyment  with  Jesus  in 
ordinances,  in  retirement,  in  prayer,  in  praise,  until  that  I 
drop  this  body  of  sin  ?     And  wouldest  thou  not,  my  soul, 
gladly  part  with  such  a  partner,  near  and  dear  as  it  is,  if  this 
partner,  in  its  present  state,  so  dreadfully  robs  thee  of  thy 
most  precious  enjoyments?     It  is  true,  death  in  itself  is  not 
desirable ;  but  if  only  by  dying  thou  canst  enjoy  Jesus ;  and 
if  only  by  dying  this  body  will  lose  its  corruptions ;  if  the 
grave  hath  a  commission  from  thy  Jesus  to  destroy  that  part 
only  of  thy  body  which  is  corrupt,  and,  at  the  same  time,  to 
act  as  a  preserver  of  that  part  which  Jesus,  at  the  last  day, 
will   raise   up  to    glory  ;    if  Jesus    hath   assured   thee  that, 
though  worms  destroy  thy  corrupt  part,  yet  thine  eyes,  even 
thy  bodily  eyes,  when  raised  up  by  Jesus  a  glorified  body, 
shall  see  God  ;  and  if  thy  body,  thus  raised  up  and  reani- 
mated, shall  then  be  not  only  wholly  freed  from  all  corrup- 
tion, but  equally  disposed  as  the  soul  to  praise  thy  God  and 
Saviour  for  ever  and  ever,  and  both  soul  and  body  united  as 
dear  friends  in  this  blessed  service ;  oh !  then,  from  hence- 
forth never,  my  soul,  look  at  death  any  more  but  as  thy  kind 


APRIL,  81 

friend.  It  is  to  die  to  sin  ;  but  it  is  to  live  to  Jesus.  It  is  to 
be  dead  to  all  things  but  Jesus,  that  Jesus  may  be  all  things 
in  life  for  ever.  Oh !  then,  for  this  desire  to  depart,  and  to 
be  with  Christ. 


APRIL. 

1. — And  this  is  his  name  whereby  he  shall  be  called — The  Lord  our 
Righteousness. — Jeremiah  xxiii.  6. 

Begin  this  month,  my  soul,  with  contemplating  thy  Jesus, 
in  this  glorious  distinction  of  character ;  and  beg  of  God  the 
Holy  Ghost,  who  hath  here  declared  that,  under  this  charac- 
ter, Jesus  shall  be  known  and  called,  that  every  day  through 
the  month,  and  through  the  whole  of  life,  thou  mayest  find 
grace  and  strength  so  to  knov\^  and  so  to  call  Jesus,  as  to  be 
everlastingly  satisfied  that  thou  ait  made  the  righteousness  of 
God  in  him.  And  first,  my  soul,  consider  who  and  what  this 
Holy  One  is.  He  is  the  Lord  Jehovah.  In  the  glories  of 
his  essence^  he  is  One  with  the  Father.  In  his  'personal  glo- 
ries, he  is  the  Lord  thy  Mediator.  And  in  his  relative  glo- 
ries, he  is  thy  righteousness.  For,  by  virtue  of  his  taking 
thy  nature,  what  he  is  as  Mediator  and  as  the  Surety  of  his 
people,  he  is  for  them.  Pause  over  this  blessed  view,  and 
then  say,  what  can  be  more  blessed  than  thus  to  behold  Jesus 
as  what  he  is  in  himself /o?-  his  people?  Look  at  him  again, 
my  soulj  and  take  another  view  of  him  in  his  loveliness  ;  in 
what  he  is  to  his  people.  This  precious  Scripture  saith,  that 
he  is  the  Lord  our  Righteousness  ;  that  is,  by  virtue  of  his 
Godhead  he  is  our  Righteousness,  in  such  a  sure  way,  and 
with  such  everlasting  value  and  efficacy,  as  no  creature  could 
be.  The  righteousness  his  redeemed  possess  in  him,  and 
have  a  right  in  him,  and  are  entitled  to  in  him,  is  the 
righteousness  of  God  ;  and  therefore  impossible  ever  to  be 
lost,  and  impossible  ever  to  be  fully  recompensed  in  glory. 
Sweet  and  blessed  consideration !  it  seems  too  great  to  be 
believed.  And  so  it  would,  indeed,  if  the  authority  of  Jeho- 
vah had  not  stamped  it,  and  made  the  belief  of  it  the  first  and 
highest  act  of  a  poor  sinner's  obedience.     And,  observe,  my 


82  MORNING   PORTION. 

soul,  yet  further,  there  is  this  blessed  addition  to  the  account 
— he  shall  he  called  so.  By  whom  ?  Nay,  by  every  one  that 
knows  him.  The  poor  sinner  shall  call  him  so,  who  is  lead 
to  see  and  feel  that  he  hath  no  righteousness  of  his  own  ;  he 
shall  call  Jesus  his  Lord,  his  Righteousness  ;  he  shall  call  him 
so  to  others,  he  shall  call  upon  him  for  himself;  he  shall  be 
that  true  Israelite,  that  very  One  whom  the  Prophet  describes 
— "  Surely  shall  one  say,  in  the  Lord  have  I  righteousness 
and  strength."  The  redeemed  upon  earth,  the  redeemed  in 
heaven,  the  church  of  the  first-born,  shall  call  him  so.  The 
whole  army  of  patriarchs,  and  prophets,  and  apostles,  all 
shall  know  Jesus,  as  the  Lord  our  Righteousness.  Nay,  God 
himself,  our  Father,  shall  call  his  dear  Son  by  this  glorious 
name  ;  for  it  is  He  who  hath  constituted  and  appointed  him 
as  the  Lord  our  Righteousness.  And  that  Jesus  is  our  Righ- 
teousness is  from  this  very  cause, "  that  he  is  made  of  God  to 
us  wisdom  and  righteousness,  sanctification  and  redemption, 
that  he  that  glorieth  may  glory  in  the  Lord."  Now,  my 
soul!  what  sayest  thou  to  this  sweet  view  of  Jesus  in  this 
most  precious  Scripture  ?  Is  not  this  name  of  Jesus  most 
grateful  to  thee,  as  ointment  of  the  richest  fragrancy  poured 
forth  %  Can  any  name  be  as  sweet  and  delightful  to  one  con- 
vinced, as  thou  art,  that  all  thy  righteousness  is  as  dung  and 
dross,  as  the  name  of  Jesus — the  Lord  our  Righteousness  ? 
Witness  for  me,  ye  angels  of  light,  that  I  renounce  every 
other  ;  and  from  henceforth  will  make  mention  of  his  righte- 
ousness, and  his  only.  Yes,  blessed  Jesus  !  my  mouth  shall 
daily  speak  of  thy  righteousness  and  salvation ;  for  I  know 
no  end  thereof 


2. — And  Aaron  shall  lay  both  his  hands  upon  the  head  of  the  live  goat, 
and  confess  over  him  all  the  iniquities  of  the  children  of  Israel,  and 
all  their  transgressions  in  all  their  sins,  putting  them  upon  the  head 
of  the  goat,  and  shall  send  him  away  by  the  hand  of  a  fit  man  into 
the  wilderness.  And  the  goat  shall  bear  upon  him  all  their  iniquities, 
unto  a  land  not  inhabited. — Levit.  xvi.  21,  22. 

Pause,  my  soul !  and  behold  the  tender  mercy  of  thy  God, 
in  thus  causing  to  be  represented  to  the  church  of  old,  by  so 
striking  a  service,  that  grand  and  most  momentous  doctrine 
of  the  gospel,  which,  in  after  ages  of  the  church,  was  fully 
set  forth  and  completed  when  Jehovah  laid  upon  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  the  iniquities  of  his  people.  And  do,  my  soul, 
attend  to  those  several  most  interesting  points  here  graciously 
revealed.     As  first — This  was  the  express  command  of  God. 


APRIL.  $^ 

Yes!  who  but  God  could  transfer,  or  permit  a  change  of  per- 
sons in  the  transferring  of  sin  ?  This  is  one  of  the  most 
blessed  parts  of  the  gospel,  that  when  Jesus  bore  our  sins  in 
his  own  body  on  the  tree,  it  was  by  the  express  will  and  ap- 
pointment of  Jehovah.  The  Lord  Jesus  took  not  those  sins 
on  himself;  but  the  Lord  laid  on  him  the  iniquity  of  us  all. 
Mark  this  down  in  strong  characters.  Then  next  consider — 
that  as  Jesus  had  a  transfer  of  all  the  sins  of  his  people,  con- 
sequently they  were  no  longer  upon  the  people  from  whom 
they  were  transferred.  Here  faith  finds  full  scope  for  exer- 
cise, in  giving  God  the  credit  due  to  God.  The  sending 
away  the  goat  was  intended  to  represent  the  full  remission  of 
sins  ;  and  by  the  goat  bearing  them  away  to  a  land  not  in- 
habited, intimated  that  those  sins  should  never  be  seen  or 
known  any  more,  according  to  that  precious  Scripture  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  by  the  prophet:  ^^  the  iniquity  of  Israel  shall  he 
sought  for  ^  and  there  shall  be  none;  and  the  sins  of  Judah^  and 
they  shall  not  be  found.''^  Jerem.  1.  20.  And  there  is  one 
sweet  thought  more,  not  to  be  overlooked  in  this  blessed  Scrip- 
ture, concerning  those  sins.  Observe,  my  soul,  the  particu- 
larity of  the  expression.  The  confession  of  Aaron,  the  great 
high-priest,  was  not  only  of  all  the  iniquities  of  the  children 
of  Israel,  but  of  all  their  transgressions  in  all  their  sins. 
Pause,  my  soul,  over  this  view,  and  recollect  that  there  are 
many,  and  sometimes  very  heinous  and  aggravated,  circum- 
stances of  transgression  in  thy  sins.  Now  what  a  sweet 
thought  of  relief  to  thy  mind  is  it,  under  particular  and  gall- 
ing circumstances  of  sin,  to  behold  thy  Jesus  bearing  thy 
sins,  and  all  the  transgression  of  all  thy  sins.  The  Lord 
caused  to  meet  in  him,  as  the  passage  might  have  been  ren- 
dered, the  iniquities  of  us  all.  Isaiah  liii.  6.  Jesus  was  made 
the  common  receiver,  the  drain,  the  sink,  into  which  all  the 
sins,  and  every  minute  and  particular  sin  was  emptied.  He 
shall  drink  of  the  brook  in  the  way,  said  the  Holy  Ghost, 
Psalm  ex.  7.  Was  not  this  the  black,  the  filthy  brook  of  Ce- 
dro?i,  into  which  all  the  filth  from  the  sacrifices  of  the  temple 
were  emptied  ?  Here  it  was  Jesus  passed,  when,  in  the  night 
of  his  entering  on  his  passion,  he  went  into  the  garden.  Look 
on  this,  my  soul,  and  see  where  it  doth  not  strikingly,  though 
solemnly  at  the  same  time,  set  forth  Jesus  bearing  all  and 
every  particular  transgression  in  all  thy  sins.  One  thought 
more.  The  goat,  thus  laden  with  all  the  sins  of  the  people, 
was  to  be  sent  away  by  the  hand  of  some  fit  man  into  the  wil- 
derness.    As  none  but  Jesus  could  be  competent  to  bear  sins, 


84  MORNING    PORTION. 

SO  none  but  Jesus  could  be  fit  to  bear  them  away  into  a  land 
of  everlasting  forgetfulness.  It  doth  not  lessen  the  beauty  of 
this  blessed  Scripture  in  the  representation  here  made,  in  Je- 
sus being  set  foith  under  two  characters  ;  for  he  is  so  in  many. 
None  but  Jesus  can  indeed  accomplish  all ;  he  is  the  High- 
Priest,  the  Altar,  and  the  Sacrifice,  through  all  the  law  ;  and 
he  is  the  fit  man  here  represented,  as  well  as  the  burden- 
bearer  of  sin.  Hail,  thou  Great  High-Priest !  Blessed  for 
ever  be  thou  who  hast  borne  away  all  the  sins  of  thy  people 
into  a  land  not  inhabited.  Thou  hast  crossed  out,  in  God's 
book  of  account,  each  and  every  individual  sin,  and  the  trans- 
gression of  all  our  sins,  in  the  red  letters  of  thy  blood  ;  and 
never  shall  they  appear  again  to  the  condemnation  of  thy 
people. 

3. — A  man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief. — Isaiah  liii.  3. 

My  soul !  there  is  one  feature  in  thy  Redeemer's  charac- 
ter which  in  the  unequaled  abasement  of  his  person,  demands 
thy  constant  contemplation.  I  fear  it  hath  not  been  con- 
sidered by  thee  as  it  ought.  And  yet  it  is  so  sweetly  accom- 
modating and  lovely  that  the  more  thou  beholdest  thy  Jesus 
in  this  tender  light,  the  more  endeared  he  must  appear  to 
thee.  The  prophet,  under  the  Holy  Ghost,  hath  here  in  a 
few  words  sketched  the  outlines  of  it — "  A  man  of  sorrows, 
ami  acquainted  icith  griefs  It  was  most  essential  that  Jesus 
should  be  all  this,  because  it  belonged  to  the  curse  which  he 
became  for  his  people,  when  he  offered  himself  as  their 
suretJ^  You  will  remember,  my  soul,  the  curse  which  God 
pronounced  upon  the  earth,  and  man's  passage  through  it, 
when  he  broke  the  divine  law.  The  ground  was  cursed  ; 
the  produce  of  it  was  to  be  thorns  and  thistles  ;  in  sorrow, 
and  in  the  sweat  of  the  brow  was  man  to  eat  bread  ;  and,  at 
length  death  was  to  close  his  life.  Now  it  behoved  Him  who 
undertook  to  remove  the  curse,  to  bear  that  curse  before  the 
removal  of  it,  and,  as  such,  it  behoved  Jesus  to  be  a  man  of 
sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief  Hence  all  these  seized 
on  the  Lord  Jesus,  in  the  first  moment  he  assumed  our  na- 
ture. And  though  he  had  no  sin  in  his  nature,  not  being 
born  in  the  ordinary  way  of  our  nature,  yet,  as  a  Surety,  he 
was  at  once  exposed  to  all  the  frailties,  in  the  sinless  sorrows, 
and  travails  and  labours  of  it.  This  sentence  would  not  have 
been  fulfilled  had  not  Jesus  eat  bread  in  the  sweat  of  his  brow. 
So  interesting  a  part,  therefore,  was  it  in  Christ's  life,  that  he 


APRIL.  85 

should  labour  in  a  common  occupation,  that  this  part  of  the 
curse  might  not  go  by  without  being  accomplished.  And 
how  eminently,  my  soul,  was  this  part  indeed  fulfilled,  when, 
in  the  garden,  the  sweat  of  his  brow,  was  drops  of  blood ! 
How  full  of  thorns  and  thistles  was  the  earth  to  Jesus,  may 
be  in  some  measure  considered,  when  we  behold  him  in  the 
unequaled  sorrows  of  the  opposition  he  met  with  from  the 
world,  the  unkindness  of  friends,  the  malice  of  enemies.  The 
thorny  crown  put  upon  his  sacred  head  was  little  considered 
by  those  that  put  it;  but  yet  it  was  in  reality  crowning  him 
Lord  of  sorrow  and  grief,  beyond  all  men  that  were  ever  ex- 
ercised with  affliction.  So  great  indeed  was  the  continued 
load  he  bore  of  grief,  and  so  much  did  it  tend  to  waste  and 
wear  the  spirits,  that  according  to  the  expression  of  the  Jews 
to  him — thou  art  not  y^t  fifty  years  old^  evidentlv  proved  that 
he  had  the  visage  of  one  of  fifty,  when  only  thirty.  And  it 
is  remarkable,  though  we  are  told  that  Jesus  rejoiced  in  spirit, 
yet  we  never  read  that  he  was  once  seen  to  laugh  during  his 
whole  life.  Precious  Jesus ;  enable  me  ever  to  be  looking 
unto  thee,  thou  meek  and  lowly  Lamb  of  God  ;  and  may  I 
never  lose  sight  of  this  .sweet  part  of  thy  character  also,  that 
whilst  thou  didst  bear  our  sins,  so  didst  thou  carry  our  sor- 
rows ;  and  in  fulfilling  the  law,  didst  take  away  the  curse 
also,  when  in  sorrow  thou  didst  eat  bread  all  the  days  of  thy 
life. 


4. — A  place  called  Gethsemane. — ?ilatt.  xxiv.  36. 

My  soul ;  let  thy  morning  meditation  be  directed  to  the 
garden  of  Gethsemane ;  that  memorable  spot,  sacred  to  the 
believer,  because  so  much  beloved  and  resorted  to  b}'  Jesus. 
Here  Jesus  oft  came  with  his  disciples.  And  here,  my  soul, 
do  thou  often  take  the  wing  of  fliith,  and  flee  in  devout  con- 
templation. Was  this  place  dear  to  thee,  thou  precious  Re- 
deemer ?  And  was  it  not  because  here  thou  didst  enjoy  the 
sweetest  refreshings  in  communion  with  the  Father?  Was 
it  not  because  here  thou  knewest  Avould  begin  the  conflict 
and  the  agony,  in  which  the  great  business  for  which  thou 
camest  on  earth  would  be  accomplished  ?  Didst  thou  abide 
here,  Lord,  a  whole  night,  after  a  day's  constant  preaching 
to  the  people,  the  week  only  before  thy  crucifixion?  (See 
Luke  xxi.  37,)  and  when  the  night  was  passed,  didst  thou 
again  repair  to  the  temple  to  the  same  employ  ?  Was  Geth- 
semane dear  to  Jesus  ?     Was  here  his  favorite  haunt  ?    And 

8 


86  MORNING   PORTION. 

shall  not  my  soul  delight  to  be  often  here  in  solemn  medita- 
tion ?  Will  not  my  Lord  lead  me  there,  and  going-  with  me 
there,  sweetly  speak  to  me  there?  that  while  in  imagina- 
tion I  tread  the  sacred  ground,  my  soul  may  view  the  several 
spots,  and  say, — Here  it  was,  perhaps,  my  Redeemer  was 
withdrawn  a  stone's  cast  from  his  disciples  that  the  powers  of 
darkness  might  more  furiously  assault  his  holy  soul !  And 
here  the  angel  stept  from  heaven  to  strengthen  him  ;  and 
here  the  Lord  Jesus  was  in  his  agony,  when  the  sweat  of  his 
body  forced  through  all  the  pores  great  drops  of  blood,  faUing 
down  to  the  ground  !  Is  this  Gethsemane  ?  and  why  Geth- 
semane?  The  Jews  called  it  Ge-hennom^  or  Hell;  for  here 
it  was  Josiah  burnt  the  idol-vessels.  2  Kings  xxiii.  4,  5,  6,  10. 
And  it  is  the  same  as  Tophet,  the  only  word  the  Jews  used 
for  hell  after  their  return  from  the  Babylonish  captivity. 
The  field  of  Cedron  was  indeed  a  dark  and  gloomy  place; 
and  by  its  side  ran  the  foul  and  black  brook  which  Jesus 
passed  over  when  he  went  into  Gethsemane.  Here  David 
of  old  went  mourning  and  lamenting,  when  Ahitophel,  like 
another  Judas,  betrayed  him,  and  his  life  was  sought  after. 
2  Sam.  XV.  28.  And  here  the  son  of  David  passed  also, 
when  the  man  of  whom  David  by  the  spirit  of  prophecy  spake, 
(Psalm  xIj.  9,)  which  eat  bread  with  Jesus,  lifted  up  his  heel 
against  him.  And  was  this  Gethsemane  the  favoured  spot 
of  Jesus,  because  here  he  had  so  sweetly  enjoyed  communion 
with  his  Father,  and  because  here  he  should  encounter  the 
powers  of  darkness  ?  Learn  then,  my  soul,  from  thy  Jesus, 
where  thou  oughtest  to  seek  grace  in  a  refreshing  hour,  to 
comfort  a  trying  hour.  Say,  my  soul,  where  should  be  thy 
dying  place,  but  where  thy  God  hath  most  blessed  thy  living 
place?  There,  Jesus,  make  my  seasons  (if  it  needs  be)  of 
conflict,  where  thou  hast  sanctified  and  made  blessed  by  thy 
Bethel  visits.  And  was  a  garden  the  favoured  spot  of  Jesus? 
Yes  !  It  was  in  a  garden  the  first  Adam  lost  himself  and 
his  posterity  ;  there,  then,  Jesus  Avill  recover  the  forfeited  in- 
heritance. Did  the  devil  begin  in  Eden  to  ruin  man  ?  Why, 
then,  in  Gethsemane  Jesus  will  begin  to  conquer  hell  for 
man's  recovery.  Did  Satan,  from  the  garden,  bind  and  carry 
captive  the  first  Adam  ?  Then  from  a  garden  also  shall  he 
cause  to  be  bound,  and  carried  away  to  the  cross,  the  second 
Adam,  that  he,  by  death,  might  destroy  him  that  had  the 
power  of  death — that  is,  the  devil,  and  deliver  them  who, 
through  fear  of  death,  are  all  their  lifetime  subject  to  bondage. 
Solemn  Gethsemane !  awful,  but  hallowed  spot ;  here  would 


APRIL.  87 

1  often  come:  here  contemplate  Jesus,  my  blessed  surety, 
groaning  yet  conquering;  pressed  under  all  the  hellish 
malice  of  the  devil,  yet  triumphing  over  all  ;  deserted  by  his 
disciples,  sweating  a  bloody  sweat,  sustaining  the  wrath  of 
offended  justice,  drinking  the  cup  of  trembhng!  Is  this 
Gethsemane !  Oh,  thou  Lamb  of  God  !  thou  Pascal  Lamb  ! 
here  oft  bring  me :  here  show  me  thy  loves  !  and  as  thy  joys 
Avere  here  turned  into  sorrows,  give  me  to  see  how  the  curses 
which  I  deserve,  but  which  thou  didst  endure,  were  con- 
verted into  blessings,  and  that  by  thy  stripes  I  am  healed. 
Hail,  sacred  Gethsemane ! 

5. — Being  in  an  agony. — Luke  xxii.  44. 

My  soul !  art  thou  still  in  Gethsemane  ?  Look  at  Jesus 
once  more :  behold  him  in  his  agony  ;  view  him  in  his 
bloody  sweat,  in  a  night  of  cold,  and  in  the  open  air,  when 
we  are  told  that  the  servants  in  the  high-priest's  hall  were 
obliged  to  make  a  fire  of  coals  to  warm  themselves.  In  such 
a  night  was  thy  Jesus,  from  the  extremity  of  an  anguish 
in  his  soul  by  reason  of  thy  sins,  made  to  sweat  great  drops 
of  blood.  Look  at  the  Lord  in  this  situation,  and  as  the 
prophet  by  vision  beheld  him  coming  up  with  his  dyed 
garments,  as  one  that  had  trodden  the  wine-fat ;  so  do  thou, 
by  faith,  behold  him  in  his  bloody  sweat  when,  from  treading 
the  wine  press  of  the  wrath  of  God,  under  the  heavy  load  of 
the  world's  guilt,  his  noble  raiment  v/as  stained  with  blood. 
Sin  first  made  man  to  sweat,  and  Jesus,  though  he  knew  no 
sin,  yet  taking  out  the  curse  of  it  for  his  people,  was  made  to 
sweat  blood  !  Oh  !  thou  meek  and  holy  lamb  of  God  ;  me- 
thinks  I  would,  day  by  day,  attend  the  garden  of  Gethsemane 
by  faith,  and  contemplate  thee  in  thy  agony.  But  who  shall 
unfold  it  to  my  wondering  eyes,  or  explain  all  its  vast  concern 
to  my  astonished  soul.  The  evangelists,  by  their  different 
turns  of  expression  to  point  it  out,  plainly  show  that  nothing 
within  the  compass  of  language  can  unfold  it.  Mattheiv  saith 
the  soul  of  Jesus  was  exceeding  sorroiofid^  even  unto  death. 
Matt.  xxvi.  38.  The  sorrows  of  hell,  as  is  elsewhere  men- 
tioned, encompassed  him.  Psalm  xviii.  5.  My  soul !  pause 
over  this.  Was  Jesus'  soul  thus  sorrowful,  even  with  hell- 
sorrows,  when,  from  the  sins  of  his  people  charged  on  him, 
and  the  penalty  exacted  from  him  as  the  sinner's  surety,  the 
wrath  of  God  against  sin,  lighting  upon  him,  came  as  the 
tremendous  vensfeance  of  hell  1     Mark  describes  the  state  of 


88  MORNING   PORTION. 

the  Lamb  of  God  as  sore  a?nazed.  The  expression  signifies 
an  horror  of  mind  ;  such  a  degree  of  fear  and  consternation 
as  when  the  hairs  of  the  head  stand  upright  through  terror 
of  mind.  And  was  Jesus  thus  agonized,  and  for  sins  his 
holy  soul  had  never  committed,  when  standing  forth  as  the 
surety  for  others  ?  Joh?i's  expression  of  the  Redeemer's 
state,  on  this  occasion  is,  that  his  soul  teas  troubled.  John 
xii.  27.  The  original  of  this  word,  troubled,  is  the  same  as 
the  Lathis  derive  their  word  for  hell  from.  As  if  the  Lord 
Jesus  felt  what  the  prophet  had  said  concerning  everlasting 
burnings^  Isaiah  xxxiii.  14.  "  My  heart,"  said  that  patient  suf- 
ferer, "  is  like  wax ;  it  is  melted  in  the  midst  of  my  bowels." 
Psalm  xxii.  13.  Hence  Moses,  and  after  him  Paul,  in  the 
view  of  God's  taking  vengeance  on  sin,  describes  him  under 
an  awful  account — Our  God  is  a  consuming  fire.  Deut.  iv.  24. 
Heb.  xii.  29.  Beholding  his  Father  thus  coming  to  punish 
sin,  in  his  person,  Jesus  said — my  iniquities  have  taken  hold 
upon  me,  therefore  my  heart  faileth  me^  Psalm  xl.  12.  And 
Luke  folds  up  an  account  of  Jesus  being  in  an  agony  ;  such 
a  labouring  as  implies  an  universal  convulsion  :  as  dying 
men,  with  cold  clammy  sweats  ;  so  Jesus,  scorched  with  the 
hot  wrath  of  God  on  sin,  sweated  in  his  agony  clots  of  blood  1 
My  soul,  canst  thou  hold  out  any  longer?  Will  not  thy  eye- 
strings  and  heart-strings  break,  thus  to  look  on  Jesus  in  his 
agony  ?  Oh  !  precious  Jesus  !  were  the  great  objects  of  in- 
sensible, inanimated  nature,  made  to  feel  as  if  it  took  part  in 
thy  sufferings,  and  am  I  unmoved  ?  Did  the  very  graves 
yawn  at  his  death  and  resurrection  1  and  were  the  rocks  rent, 
while  my  tearless  eyes  thus  behold  thee  ?  Oh,  gracious  God  ! 
fulfil  thy  promise  by  the  prophet,  that  I  may  look  on  him 
whom  I  have  pierced,  and  mourn  as  one  that  mourneth  for 
his  only  son,  and  be  in  bitterness  as  one  that  is  in  bitterness 
for  his  first  born. 

6. — Jesus  knowing  all  things  that  should  come  upon  him,  went  forth, 
and  said  unto  them,  Whom  seek  ye?  They  answered  him,  Jesus  of 
Nazareth.  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  I  am  he.  And  Judas  also,  which 
betrayed  him,  stood  witli  them.  As  soon  as  he  had  said  unto  them, 
I  am  he,  they  went  backward  and  fell  to  the  ground. — John  xxviii. 
4,  5,  6. 

What  a  glorious  Scripture  is  this !  Ponder  it  well,  my 
soul ;  for  of  all  the  miracles  of  thy  Jesus,  there  is  not  one 
more  sweet  and  satisfactory  to  contemplate.  Yesterday  thou 
wert  looking  at  thy  Redeemer  under  a  heavy  cloud.     Look 


APRIL,  89 

at  him  as  he  is  here  represented,  for  he  is  still,  in  this  trans- 
action, in  the  same  garden  of  Gethsemane  :  and  behold  how 
the  Godhead  shone  forth  with  a  glory  surpassing  all  descrip- 
tion. Observe  what  a  willing  sacrifice  was  Jesus.  He  knew 
the  hour  was  come ;  for  he  had  said  so.  He  doth  not  wait 
to  be  taken,  and  by  wicked  hands  to  be  crucified  and  slain  ; 
but  he  goeth  forth  to  surrender  himself  Yes  !  Jesus  did  not 
go  to  the  garden  of  Gethsemane  for  nothing  :  he  knew  Judas 
would  be  there :  he  knew  the  powers  of  darkness  would  be 
there ;  he  knew  how  his  whole  soul  would  be  in  an  agony  ; 
but  there  Jesus  would  go.  He  had  said  at  the  table  to  his 
disciples,  "  Arise,  let  us  go  hence."  Precious,  precious 
Jesus !  how  endearing  to  my  poor  soul  is  this  sweet  view  of 
thy  readiness  and  earnestness  to  become  a  sacrifice  for  the 
sins  of  thy  people.  Thou  hadst  this  baptism,  Lord,  to  be 
baptized  with  ;  and  how  wast  thou  straitened  until  it  was 
accomplished!  There  was  a  time,  dear  Lord,  when  the 
multitudes  sought  for  thee  to  make  thee  a  king,  so  convinced 
were  they,  for  the  moment,  who  thou  wert ;  and  then  thou 
didst  hide  thyself  from  them.  But  now,  when  thine  enemies 
come  to  make  thee  king  with  a  crown  of  thorns,  and  to  nail 
thy  sacred  body  to  the  cross,  thou  didst  hasten  to  meet  them. 
Well  might  the  Prophet  say,  thou  wentest  forth  for  the  salva- 
tion of  thy  people  !  Look  at  this  scripture  again,  my  soul. 
"  Whom  seek  ye  ?"'  said  Jesus.  Did  they  not  know  him  ? 
It  was  a  light  night,  most  probably,  for  the  moon  was  then  at 
the  full:  beside,  the  seekers  of  Christ  had  lanterns  and 
torches.  How  was  it  they  did  not  know  him  ?  Didst  thou 
for  the  moment,  dearest  Lord !  do  by  them  as  thine  angels  at 
the  gate  of  Lot  by  the  Sodomites,  so  cause  their  eyes  to  be 
holden  that  they  should  not  know  thee  1  Was  there  some- 
what of  a  miracle  in  this  also?  But,  my  soul,  behold  the 
wonder  of  wonders  that  followed :  no  sooner  had  Jesus  said 
to  their  inquiry.  Whom  seek  ye  ?  '-I  am  he,"  than  they 
went  backward  and  fell  to  the  ground.  Was  there  indeed 
some  sudden  overpowering  emanation  of  the  Godhead,  break- 
ing through,  the  vail  of  Jesus's  flesh,  which  induced  this 
effect?  Was  it  ever  known,  ever  heard  of,  in  any  age  or 
period  of  the  world,  of  such  an  effect  before  ?  Supposing  all 
the  monarchs  of  the  earth,  with  the  mightiest  armies  of  men, 
could  be  assembled  together,  how  should  such  an  event  be 
induced  by  the  breath  of  their  mouth?  Contemplate  this, 
my  soul !  again  and  again.  Rejoice,  my  soul !  in  this  view 
of  thy  Saviour ;  for  never,  surely,  was  a  greater  miracle  of 

8* 


90  MORNING   PORTION, 

thy  Redeemer's  wrought :  and  remember  how  soon  it  took 
place  after  his  agony.  Never  go  to  Gethsemane  in  medita- 
tion, without  taking  the  recollection  of  it  with  thee.  Behold 
the  Man  ;  behold  the  God  !  Here  was  nothing  exercised  by 
Jesus  ;  no  weapon,  no  threat,  no  denunciation,  no  appeal  to 
the  Father.  Jesus  only  simply  said,  "  I  am  he,"  and  they 
fell  to  the  earth.  Precious  Jesus  !  what  a  volume  of  instruc- 
tion doth  it  afford.  If  such  was  the  effect  in  the  day  of  thy 
flesh,  how  sure  is  that  Scripture  concerning  the  day  of  thy 
power,  in  which  it  is  said,  "The  Lord  shall  consume  the 
wicked  with  the  breath  of  his  mouth,  and  destroy  them  with 
the  brightness  of  his  coming."  2  Thess.  ii.  8.  And  if,  my 
soul,  there  was  such  power  in  the  word  of  thy  Saviour,  when 
he  only  said  to  his  enemies,  "  I  am  he,"  why  shouldest  thou 
not  feel  all  the  sweetness  and  gracious  power  of  his  love,  when 
he  saith,  "  Fear  not,  I  am  he,"  behold  I  am  with  thee :  it  is  I, 
be  not  afraid."  Ponder,  my  soul,  in  this  view  also,  the  awful 
state  of  a  soul  hardened  by  sin.  The  enemies  of  Jesus, 
though  they  fell  to  the  ground  at  his  mere  word,  felt  no 
change,  no  compunction  at  the  display  of  it,  Judas  also  was 
with  them.  Yes  !  he  fell  also  ;  but  Satan  had  entered  into 
him,  and  a  reprobate  mind  marked  him  as  the  son  of  perdi- 
tion. Oh  !  precious  Jesus  !  how  fully  read  to  thy  people,  in 
every  part  of  thy  word,  is  the  solemn  truth,  that  grace  makes 
all  the  difTerence  between  him  that  serveth  God,  and  him 
that  serveth  him  not.  Oh  !  keep  me.  Lord,  and  I  shall  be 
well  kept ;  for  unto  thee  do  I  Hft  up  my  soul. 

7. — He  hath  poured  out  his  soul  unto  death, — Isaiah  liii.  12,  , 

My  soul !  from  the  garden  to  the  cross,  follow  Jesus !  Be- 
hold him  apprehended  and  hurried  away,  both  to  judgment 
and  to  death.  He  who  struck  to  the  ground  the  band  that 
came  to  take  him,  might  surely,  by  the  same  breath  of  his 
mouth,  have  struck  them  to  hell,  and  prevented  his  being  ap- 
prehended by  them.  But  one  of  the  sweetest  and  most  blessed 
parts  of  Jesus'  redemption  of  his  people,  consisted  in  the  free- 
ness  and  willingness  of  his  sacrifice.  Yes !  thou  precious 
Lamb  of  God!  no  man  (as  thou  thyself  hadst  before  said) 
had  power  to  take  thy  life  from  thee ;  but  thou  didst  lay  it 
down  of  thyself:  thou  hadst  power  to  lay  it  down,  and  thou 
hadst  power  to  take  it  again.  Delightful  consideration  to 
thee,  my  soul !  Now,  my  soul,  let  this  day's  meditation  be 
sacred  to  the  view  of  thy  Redeemer,  pouring  out  his  soul  unto 


APRH..  91 

death.  And  to-morrow,  if  the  Lord  gives  thee  to  see  the 
morrow,  let  the  solemn  subject  of  thy  study  be  the  sufferings 
of  Jesus  in  his  body.  Pause,  then,  my  soul,  and  call  up  all 
the  powers  of  thy  mind  to  the  contemplation  of  what  the 
scripture  teacheth,  concerning  thy  Redeemer's  pouring  out 
his  soul  unto  death.  Seek  the  teachings  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
in  this  solemn  and  mysterious  subject.  The  original  curse 
pronounced  on  the  fall,  which  Jesus  took  upon  himself,  and 
came  to  do  away,  contained  somewhat  vastly  great.  For  as 
the  blessing  promised  to  obedience,  do  this  and  thou  shall  live, 
certainly  meant  somewhat  much  greater  than  mere  animal 
life,  and  implied  sweet  fellowship  and  communion  with  God  ; 
so  the  curse  to  disobedience,  dijing  thou  shalt  die,  as  plainly 
intimated  much  more  than  the  mere  return  of  the  body  to  the 
dust  out  of  which  it  was  taken  ;  it  meant  what  in  Scripture 
(Rev.  XX.  6.)  is  called  the  second  death,  meaning  hell  and 
everlasting  misery.  Hence,  in  the  recovery  of  our  lost  and 
fallen  nature  from  this  awful  state,  when  Jesus  undertook  the 
salvation  of  his  people,  he  was  to  sustain  all  that  was  our 
due ;  and  in  the  accomplishment  of  this,  he  not  only  died  in 
his  body,  but  he  poured  out  his  soul  unto  death.  As  the 
sinner's  Representative,  and  the  sinner's  Surety,  he  bore  the 
whole  weight  and  pressure  of  divine  justice  due  to  sin ;  ac- 
cording to  what  the  Holy  Ghost  taught — "  Indignation  and 
wrath,  tribulation  and  anguish,  upon  every  soul  of  man  that 
doeth  evil."  Rom.  ii.  9.  Not  that  the  Redeemer  needed,  in 
the  accomplishment  of  this,  to  go  down  into  hell  to  suffer  the 
miseries  of  the  damned  ;  for  when  the  avenging  wrath  of  God 
came  upon  him,  he  endured  it  here.  The  wrath  of  God  may 
be  sustained  in  earth  as  well  as  hell ;  witness  the  evil  spirit 
that  is  called  the  prince  of  the  power  of  the  air,  Ephes.  ii.  2 ; 
for  wherever  the  apostate  angels  are,  they  still  endure  divine 
wrath.  Hence,  when  the  Lord  Christ  poured  out  his  soul 
unto  death  by  reason  of  the  extremity  of  his  soul's  sufferings, 
and  soul's  travail  for  his  redeemed,  he  sustained  all  this  as 
the  sinner's  Surety,  in  becoming  sin  and  a  curse,  to  feel  and 
suffer  all  that  was  the  sinner's  due.  Oh  !  who  shall  say, 
what  heart  shall  conceive,  the  greatness  and  extensiveness  of 
thy  sufferings,  precious,  precious  Lamb  of  God  ?  Oh  !  who 
shall  undertake  fully  to  show  the  infinite  suitableness  of  Je- 
sus to  every  poor  humble  convinced  sinner,  in  delivering  him 
from  the  wrath  to  come?  Here,  my  soul,  fix  thine  eyes; 
here  let  all  thy  powers  be  employed  in  the  unceasing  con- 
templation, while  beholding  Jesus,  thy  Jesus,  pouring  out  his 


92  MORNING   PORTION. 

soul  unto  death ;  while  numbered  with  the  transgressors,  and 
bearing  the  sin  of  many,  and  making  intercession  for  the 
transgressors. 


8. — He  humbled  himself,  and  became  obedient  unto  death,  even  the 
death  of  the  cross. — Philip-p.  ii.  8. 

My  soul !  dost  thou  not  feel,  at  every  step  towards  Calvary, 
somewhat  of  the  angel's  words,  when  he  cried  "  One  woe  is 
past,  and  behold  there  come  two  woes  more  hereafter!"  Rev. 
ix.  12.  Surely  never  was  there  a  manifestation  of  the  holi- 
ness of  Jehovah,  nor  the  utter  detestation  of  God  against  sin, 
as  was  set  forth  in  the  crucifixion  of  Jesus.  Would  men, 
would  angels,  see  what  sin  really  is,  let  them  go  to  the  cross 
of  Jesus.  The  casting  rebellious  angels  out  of  heaven ;  the 
curse  pronounced  upon  the  earth  ;  the  drowning  the  old 
world  by  water ;  the  burning  Sodom  by  fire ;  nay,  the  mil- 
lions of  miseries  among  men,  and  the  unquenchable  fire  of 
hell;  though  all  these  may  make  the  souls  of  the  awakened 
exclaim  against  sin,  yet  all  these  are  slight  and  inconsidera- 
ble things,  compared  to  the  wrath  of  God  poured  out  upon 
the  person  of  God's  own  Son,  when  he  died  the  accursed 
death  of  the  cross.  My  soul,  take  thy  stand  this  day  at  the 
foot  of  the  cross.  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God!  There  see 
divine  justice  more  awfully  displayed  than  it  would  have  been 
in  the  everlasting  ruin  of  all  creation.  And  oh !  may  it  be 
thy  portion,  my  soul,  while  looking  unto  Jesus,  to  say  as 
Paul  did — "  I  am  crucified  with  Christ,  nevertheless  I  live  ; 
yet  not  I,  but  Christ  liveth  in  me ;  and  the  life  which  I  now 
live  in  the  flesh,  I  live  by  the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God,  who 
loved  me,  and  gave  himself  for  me."  But,  my  soul,  while 
thou  lookest  up  to  Jesus  hanging  on  the  painful  tree,  contem- 
plate the  sufferings  of  the  Lord  Jesus  in  his  sacred  body. 
The  death  of  the  cross  was  a  violent  death ;  for  as  there  was 
no  sin  in  Jesus,  there  could  not  have  been  those  seeds  of 
death,  which,  in  all  the  race  of  Adam  are  found  to  bring 
forth  fruit  unto  death.  Precious  thought  this,  even  in  the 
moment  of  beholding  Jesus'  life  taken  by  violence.  Had  Je- 
sus not  died  by  a  violent  death,  he  would  have  been  no  sacri- 
fice ;  for  that  which  died  of  itself  naturally,  could  not  by  the 
law  have  been  offered  to  God.  The  death  of  Jesus  was  also 
a  cursed  death;  for  it  is  written,  "Cursed  is  every  one  that 
hangeth  on  a  tree."  Behold,  my  soul,  thy  Lord  thus  lifted 
up  as  a  spectacle  between  heaven  and  earth,  as  if  cursed  and 


^  APRIL.  93 

despised  both  of  God  and  man.  The  death  of  Jesus  was  a 
painful  death,  in  which  many  deaths  were,  as  it  were,  con- 
tained in  one.  The  nails  driven  through  the  most  feeling 
parts  of  the  hands  and  feet,  and  the  body  stretched  forth  on 
the  transverse  timber,  in  this  manner  the  cross,  with  the  Lord 
Jesus  fastened  upon  it,  was  lifted  up  in  the  air,  until  the  bot- 
tom fell  into  its  socket,  which  suddenly  shook  the  whole  and 
every  part  of  his  sacred  body  :  and  thus  the  whole  weight 
hanging  on  his  pierced  nailed  hands,  the  wounds  in  both 
hands  and  feet,  by  degrees,  widened  as  he  hung,  until  at 
length  he  expired  in  tortures.  Precious,  precious  Redeemer  ! 
was  it  thus  thou  didst  offer  thy  soul  an  offering  for  sin  ? 
Was  there  no  method  in  all  the  stores  of  Omnipotency,  for 
satisfying  divine  justice,  but  by  thy  holy,  harmless,  undefiled 
body  dying  the  violent,  cursed,  painful  death  of  the  cross? 
Oh  !  by  the  crimson  fountain  of  thy  blood,  which  issued  from 
thy  pierced  side,  enable  me  to  sit  down,  day  by  day,  until  I 
find  my  whole  nature  crucified  with  thee  in  all  its  affections 
and  lusts.  Let  there  be  somewhat,  dearest  Lord,  of  an  holy 
conformity  between  my  Lord  and  me:  and  if  Jesus  died /or 
sin,  may  my  soul  die  to  sin  ;  that  by  mortifying  the  deeds  of 
the  body  I  may  live:  and  by  carrying  about  with  me  always 
the  dying  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  the  life  also  of  Jesus  may  be 
made  manifest  in  my  mortal  body. 

9. — Then  said  Jesus,  Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what  they 
do. — Luke  xxiii.  34. 

My  soul !  art  thou  still  taking  thy  stand  at  the  foot  of  the 
cross  ?  Art  thou  still  looking  up  to  Jesus  ?  If  so,  listen  now 
to  his  voice.  There  were  seven  expressions  of  Jesus  which 
were  the  last  words  that  he  uttered  on  the  cross.  The  last 
words  of  dying  friends  are  particularly  regarded  :  how  much 
more  the  last  words  of  the  best  of  all  Friends,  even  the  dying 
Friend  of  poor  lost  perishing  sinners.  Those  which  I  have 
chosen  for  the  portion  of  the  day  vrere  the  first :  and  they 
contain  the  strong  cry  of  Jesus  to  his  Father  for  forgiveness 
to  his  murderers.  And  what  endears  those  expressions  yet 
more  to  the  heart,  are,  that  they  are  not  only  the  first  upon 
the  cross,  but  they  are  wholly,  not  for  himself,  but  the  people. 
During  the  whole  painful  process  of  suffering,  when  they 
scourged  him,  crowned  him  with  thorns,  smote  him  with 
their  hands,  and  mocked  him,  we  hear  no  voice  of  complaint. 
"  He  was  led  as  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter,  and  as  a  sheep  be- 


94  MORNIJMG   PORTION.  ^ 

fore  her  snearers  is  dumb,  so  he  opened  not  his  mouth." 
Precious,  meek  Lamb  of  God  !  But  now,  when  lifted  up  on 
the  cross,  Jesus  broke  silence,  and  cried  out,  "  Father,  for- 
give them,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do."  Pause,  my 
soul !  Look  agam  at  the  cross.  Was  not  Jesus  now  entered 
upon  his  high-priest's  office  ?  Was  not  the  cross  as  the  altar 
from  whence  the  sacrifice  was  offered  1  Was  not  Jesus  him- 
self the  Sacrifice '?  And  was  not  Jesus  the  Sacrificer  ?  Might 
not  the  pale,  the  dying,  whitened  visage  of  Jesus,  be  com- 
pared to  the  white  ephod  of  the  high-priest ;  the  streaming 
blood,  flowing  over  his  sacred  body  from  the  several  wounds, 
as  the  incense  of  his  censer;  and  the  dying  sweat  of  his  holy 
frame,  like  the  smoke  ascending  with  the  sweetest  savour  be- 
fore God  ?  As  the  arms  of  .Tesus  when  he  thus  prayed,  were 
stretched  forth  on  the  cross,  so  the  high-priest  spread  forth 
his  hands,  when  burning  the  incense  for  sacrifice,  in  pleading 
for  the  people.  Hail,  thou  glorious  High-Priest !  in  this  the 
humblest  moment,  and  the  most  powerful  of  thine  intercession. 
Surely  every  wound  of  thine,  every  look,  every  feature,  every 
groan,  pleaded  with  open  mouth  this  gracious  intercession  for 
forgiveness  of  sinners.  Lord  ;  was  I  not  included  in  the 
prayer  ?  W^as  not  the  eye  of  Jesus  upon  me  in  the  moment 
of  this  ail-prevailing  advocacy?  Oh!  ye,  of  every  descrip- 
tion and  character,  that  still  sit  unconcerned  and  unmoved  at 
this  cry  of  the  Son  of  God,  is  it  nothing  to  you,  all  ye  that 
pass  by?  Think,  my  poor  una  wakened  brother,  how  justly 
*  that  voice  might  have  been  heard  for  all  the  enemies  of  Jesus 
— "  Depart  from  me,  ye  cursed  ;"  when  the  tender  language 
of  Jesus  was,  '-Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what 
they  do."  And  think,  moreover,  that  the  same  gracious 
voice  is  still  heard  in  heaven,  and  of  the  same  blessed  force 
and  efficacy  as  ever ;  for  while  our  sins  are  calling  for  judg- 
ment, the  blood  of  Jesus  calls  louder  for  mercy.  Dear  Lord  ! 
let  this  first  cry  of  thine  upon  the  cross,  be  the  first  and  last 
of  all  my  thoughts  under  every  exercise  and  temptation  of 
sin  and  Satan — "  Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not 
what  they  do." 


10. — When  Jesus  therefore  saw  his  mother  and  the  disciple  standing  by 
whom  he  loved,  he  saith  unto  his  mother,  Woman,  behold  thy  Son. 
Then  saith  he  to  the  disciple,  Behold  thy  mother. — John  xix.  26,  27. 

This  was  the  second  among  the  dying  words  of  the  Lord 
Jesus;  and,  no  doubt^  of  high  importance  in  their  full  sense 


^  APRIL,  9SL 

and  meaning :  not  simply  to  recommend  Mary  to  the  care  of 
the  beloved  Apostle  John,  but  probably  of  greater  moment  in 
reference  to  the  church  of  Jesus  at  large.  My  soul ;  is  it  not 
very  certain  that  the  Lord  Jesus  knew  all  the  events  which 
would  take  place  in  all  generations  of  his  people  ?  And,  as 
such,  did  not  Jesus  perfectly  well  know  also  that  the  time 
would  come  when  divine  honours  would  be  offered  to  Mary? 
These  points  cannot  be  disputed.  Well,  then,  is  it  not  wor- 
thy the  closest  observation,  that  Jesus,  both  in  this  place 
and  upon  all  other  occasions,  when  speaking  of  Mary,  called 
her  woman?  Why  so?  if  as  Jesus  knew  that  there  would 
be  some  who  would  pray  to  her,  and  call  her  Mother  of  God, 
by  which  name  the  Holy  Ghost  never  distinguished  her,  nei- 
ther the  Lord  Jesus  himself;  could  there  have  been  a  more 
decided  method  adopted  than  this  to  discountenance  such 
idolatry,  than  when  Jesus,  in  his  dying  moments,  called  Mary 
only  woman  ?  Besides,  was  it  not  on  another  account,  that 
as  Jesus  was  to  be  the  seed  of  the  woman  which  was  prom- 
ised to  bruise  the  serpent's  head,  such  a  dying  testimony 
might  serve  instead  of  a  thousand  witnesses  in  proof  of  the 
confirmation  of  the  fact:  and  Mary's  song  might  be  the  song 
of  thousands — "  My  soul  doth  magnify  the  Lord,  and  my 
spirit  hath  rejoiced  in  God  7)ij/  Saviour.^'  But  when  we 
have  thus  attended  to  the  second  cry  of  Christ  upon  the  cross 
in  reference  to  those  sweet  points,  do  thou  my  soul  remember 
also  how  tenderly  those  expressions  of  thy  Lord  recommend 
all  the  endearing  affections  of  love  and  regard  through  all 
the  members  of  Christ's  mystical  body.  To  behold  our  mo- 
ther, or  to  behold  our  sons,  are  only  different  expressions 
to  intimate  that  all  true  believers  in  Jesus  are  members  of 
one  another  and  of  his  body,  his  flesh,  and  his  bones  ?  And 
as  it  was  by  our  Lord  himself  in  this  life,  so  is  it  with  all  his 
redeemed,  both  in  this  life  and  in  that  which  is  to  come ; 
they  who  do  the  will  of  his  Father,  which  is  in  heaven,  the 
same  are  Christ's  brethren,  and  sisters,  and  mother. 

jfll. — And  Jesus  said  imto  him,  Verily  I  say  unto  thee,  to-day  shall  thou 
V  be  with  me  in  paradise. — Luke  xxiii.  43. 

My  soul !  hear  the  gracious  words  of  thy  Jesus.  This  was 
the  third  cry  of  the  Redeemer  on  the  cross.  And  oh  !  how 
full  of  grace,  rich,  free,  unmerited,  unexpected,  unlooked-for 
grace,  to  a  poor,  lost,  perishing  sinner,  even  in  the  very  mo- 
ment of  death.     Let  the  self-righteous  pharisee  behold  this 


96  MORxMNG    PORTION. 

example  of  redeeming  love,  and  wonder,  and  be  confounded. 
Surely  no  one  will  venture  to  suppose  that  this  man's  good 
works  were  any  recommendation,  when  the  poor  wretch  was 
dying  under  the  hands  of  justice.  What  was  it  then  that 
saved  him  but  the  complete  salvation  of  Jesus?  The  Son 
of  God  was  offering  his  soul  on  the  cross  a  sacrifice  for  sin, 
and,  being  between  two  notorious  sinners,  gave  a  rich  dis- 
play of  the  sovereignty  of  his  grace  and  his  love  to  poor  sin- 
ners ;  and,  in  confirmation,  snatched  this  one  as  a  brand  from 
the  burning — took  him  from  the  very  jaws  of  hell,  and  that 
very  da}^  led  him  in  triumph  to  heaven,  thereby  manifesting 
to  every  poor  sinner  in  whose  heart  he  puts  the  cry  for  merc}^, 
that  that  cry  shall  never  be  put  forth  in  vain.  And  mark, 
my  soul,  how  powerfully  the  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  wrought 
upon  this  man.  He  and  his  companion  both  knew  that  be- 
fore night  they  would  both  be  in  eternity.  The  thought 
affected  neither:  they  joined  the  rabble  in  insulting  Jesus. 
Save  thyself,  and  us,  was  the  language  of  the  heart  of  both, 
until  the  grace  of  Jesus  wrought  on  this  man's  mind,  and 
changed  the  reviler  into  an  humble  suitor.  What  could 
there  be  in  Jesus  thus  to  affect  him  ?  Jesus  hung  upon  the 
cross  like  a  poor  Jew.  Jesus  had  been  always  poor,  and 
never  more  so  than  now.  And  yet,  in  the  midst  of  all  these 
surrounding  circumstances,  such  a  ray  of  light  broke  in  upon 
this  man's  mind,  that  he  saw  Jesus  in  all  his  glory  and 
power,  acknowledged  him  for  a  King,  when  all  the  disciples 
had  forsook  him  and  fled,  and  prayed  to  be  remembered  by 
him  when  he  came  into  his  kingdom.  Precious  Lamb  of 
God  !  bestow  upon  me  such  a  portion  of  thy  grace  as,  under 
all  the  unpromising  circumstances  around,  may  call  forth  the 
like  conviction  of  thy  power  and  my  need.  And  oh  !  that 
this  pattern  of  mercy  might  be  reviewed  by  thousands  of 
poor  perishing,  dying  sinners.  Methinks  I  would  have  it 
proclaimed  through  all  the  public  places  of  resort,  through 
all  the  haunts  of  licentiousness,  among  the  numberless  scenes 
of  hardened  sinners  who  fear  that  they  have  sinned  beyond 
the  possibility  of  forgiveness.  Oh  !  look  at  this  example  of 
Jesus'  love,  ye  that  are  going  down  to  the  grave  full  of  sin 
and  despair ;  behold  the  thief,  behold  the  Saviour !  And 
oh  !  for  a  cry  of  grace  like  that  of  the  dying  malefactor — 
"  Lord,  remember  me  when  thou  comest  into  thy  kingdom  ;" 
and  Jesus'  gracious  answer — "  To-day  shak  thou  be  with  me 
in  paradise." 


APRIL.  97 

12. — And  about  the  ninth  hour,  Jesus  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  saying 
Eh,  Eh,  lama  sabachthani  ?  that  is  to  say,  My  God,  my  God,  why 
hast  thou  forsaken  me  ? — Matt,  xxvii.  46. 

Mark,  my  soul !  Jesus  had  hung  upon  the  cross  now  for 
six  hours.  Think  what  agonies  he  sustained  both  in  soul 
and  body.  The  fury  of  hell  had  broke  out  upon  him,  and 
in  the  cruelties  of  the  men  around  him,  exercised  upon  his 
sacred  person,  manifested  how  extensive  that  fury  was.  But 
had  this  been  all,  had  God  the  Father  smiled  upon  him,  had 
the  cup  of  trembling  been  taken  away,  some  alleviation 
would  have  taken  place  in  Jesus'  sufferings  ;  but  so  far  was 
this  from  being  the  case,  that  the  heaviest  load  of  sorrow  his 
holy  soul  sustained,  was  the  wrath  of  the  Father  due  to  sin, 
as  the  sinner's  Suret}^  Angels,  no  doubt,  looked  on.  All 
heaven  stood  amazed.  And,  at  length,  overpov^^ered  with 
the  fulness  of  sorrow  and  anguish  of  soul,  the  dying  Lamb 
cried  out,  "  My  God,  my  God,  why  hast  thouforsaken  me?" 
Pause,  my  soul,  while  thou  hearest  in  the  ear  of  faith,  still 
vibrating  in  the  air,  the  dolorous  cry,  and  conceive,  if  it  be 
possible,  what  the  holy,  harmless,  undefiled  Jesus  felt,  when 
such  expressions  of  exquisite  terror  and  distress  were  forced 
from  his  dying  lips.  What  forsaking  of  Jesus  was  this  by 
God  his  Father  7  Not  the  dissolving  of  the  union  between 
them :  not  the  withdrawing  the  arm  of  his  strength ;  for 
Jesus  still  calls  him,  "  Eli,  Eli,"  that  is,  my  strong  one  :  not 
that  he  left  him  to  himself;  neither  that  his  love  for  Jesus 
was  lessened  :  but  it  was  the  withdrawing  or  withholding 
those  sweet  manifestations  whereby  he  had  sustained  the  hu- 
man nature  of  Jesus  through  the  whole  of  his  incarnation.  It 
was  beholding  Jesus  in  this  solemn  season  as  the  sinner's 
Surety  ;  and,  as  such,  it  was  a  punishing  desertion,  implying 
that,  as  Jesus  stood,  or  rather  hung,  with  all  the  burden  of 
our  sin,  he  was  so  deserted  for  that  time  as  we,  out  of  Jesus, 
deserve  to  be  forsaken  for  ever.  The  cry  of  Jesus,  the  shriek 
of  his  precious  soul,  under  this  desertion,  represented  the  ever- 
lasting shrieks  of  them  that  are  cast  out  of  God's  gracious 
presence  to  all  eternity.  Here  pause  again,  my  soul.  And 
wouldest  thou  have  howled  in  this  endless,  pitiable  cry  for 
ever,  had  not  Jesus  uttered  it  for  thee  once?  And  art  thou, 
by  virtue  of  it,  saved  from  this  wrath  to  come?  Hath  Jesus 
both  borne  thy  sins,  carried  thy  sorrows,  and  been  forsaken  of 
his  Father,  that  thou  mightest  enjoy  his  presence  and  favour 
for  ever  ?  My  soul,  what  wilt  thou  render  to  the  Lord  for 
bU  his  benefits  ?     Wilt  thou  not  take  the  cup  of  salvation  and 

9 


98  MORNING    PORTION. 

call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  now  thy  Jesus  hath  for  thee 
taken  the  cup  of  trembling,  and  drank  all  the  dregs  of  it? 
Precious,  precious  Redeemer !  may  I  never,  never  lose  sight 
of  thee  in  this  part  of  thy  sufferings  also ;  and  especially  eye 
thee  still  more  when  my  soul  is  under  the  hidings  of  God's 
countenance.  Let  me  recollect,  dearest  Lord  !  that  thou  hast 
been  forsaken  hefore  thy  people  and/o;-  thy  people  ;  and  here, 
as  in  all  other  instances,  thou  hast  the  pre-eminence,  so  as  to 
sanctify  even  our  momentary  desertions  to  our  good  and  to 
thy  glory.  Yes,  precious  Lord  !  such  are  the  blessed  effects 
of  thy  desertion,  that  hence  my  soul  learns,  my  God  still  sup- 
ports, though  my  God  may  withhold  his  comforts.  Jesus 
was  forsaken  for  ever.  And  grant  me,  dearest  Lord  !  from 
thy  bright  example,  to  cast  myself  wholly  upon  thee,  as  thou 
didst  upon  thy  Father,  when  all  sensible  comforts  fail,  con- 
vinced that  thou  art  the  strength  of  my  heart  and  my  portion 
for  ever ! 


13. — After  this  Jesus,  knowing  that  all  things  were  now  accomplished, 
that  the  Scriptures  might  be  fulfilled,  saith,  I  thirst. — John  xix.  28. 

After  this,  that  is,  I  conceive,  (though  I  do  not  presume  to 
mark  the  very  order  in  which  the  Lord  Jesus  uttered  his 
loud  cries  upon  the  cross,)  after  his  complaint  of  desertion : 
for  whether  this  was  the  fourth  or  the  fifth  of  the  seven  last 
words  of  the  Redeemer,  I  dare  not  determine  ;  yet  the  words 
themselves  Vv-ere  highly  important,  and  significant  of  great 
things,  in  reference  to  Jesus  and  his  people.  Jesus  thus  cried 
that  the  scriptures  might  be  fulfilled,  it  is  said  ;  for  it  had  been 
prophesied  of  him,  that  gall  was  given  him  to  eat — and,  when 
thirsty,  vinegar  to  drink,  Psalm  Ixix.  21.  And  the  soldiers, 
unconscious  what  they  did  of  fulfilling  this  very  prophecj^, 
gave  him  spunge  dipped  in  vinegar.  But,  my  soul,  was  it 
the  thirst  of  the  body  thy  Jesus  complained  of?  I  think  not. 
He  had  before  declared,  at  his  last  supper,  that  he  would 
drink  no  more  of  the  fruit  of  the  vine,  until  the  day  he  drank 
it  new  in  the  kingdom  of  his  Father.  What  could  be  then 
the  thirst  of  Jesus,  but  the  thirst  of  his  soul  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  redemption /or  his  people,  and  the  accomplishment  of 
redemption  in  his  people.  He  thirsted  with  an  holy  vehe- 
ment thirst  for  the  everlasting  salvation  of  his  ransomed,  and 
seemed  to  anticipate  the  hour,  by  this  expression,  when  he 
should  see  the  travail  of  his  soul,  and  be  satisfied.  But  did 
not  Jesus  also  in  this  hour,  as  bearing  the  curse  and  wrath 


APRIL.  99 

of  God  for  sin,  thirst  in  soul  with  that  kind  of  thirst  which, 
in  hell,  those  who  bear  the  everlasting  torments  of  condemna- 
tion fee],  when  they  are  under  an  everlasting  thirst  which  ad- 
mits of  no  relief?  That  representation  the  Lord  Jesus  gives 
of  this  state,  in  the  parable  of  the  rich  man's  thirst,  serves  to 
afford  a  lively  but  alarming  view  of  such  superlative  misery. 
Oh  !  that  those  who  now  add  drunkenness  to  thirst,  would 
seriously  lay  this  to  heart.  Did  God  suffer  his  dear  Son,  to 
whom  sin  was  but  transferred,  and  not  committed  by  him — 
did  he  suffer  him  to  cry  out  under  this  thirst ;  and  what  may 
we  suppose  will  be  the  everlasting  cry  of  such  as  not  only 
merit  his  wrath  for  sin,  but  merit  yet  more,  his  everlasting 
wrath  for  refusino-  redemption  by  Jesus,  who  thirsted  on  the 
cross  to  redeem  sinners  from  endless  thirsting  in  despair  and 
misery?  My  soul!  did  Jesus  thirst  for  tliee?  Were  his 
dying  lips  parched,  and  his  soul  made  deeply  athirst  for  thy 
salvation  ?  And  shall  not  this  thirst  of  thy  Redeemer  kindle 
an  holy  thirst  in  thee  for  him,  and  his  love,  and  his  great  sal- 
vation ?  Wilt  thou  not  now  this  morning,  anew,  look  up  by 
faith  to  the  cross,  and  to  the  throne,  and  catch  the  flame  of 
love  from  his  holy,  loving,  longing,  languishing  eyes,  unti- 
all  thy  powers  go  forth  in  vehement  desires,  like  him  of  old, 
crying  out — "  As  the  hart  thirsteth  for  the  water-brooks,  so 
longeth  my  soul  after  thee,  O  God.  Let  him  kiss  me  with 
the  kisses  of  his  mouth  ;  for  thy  love  is  better  than  wine." 

14. — When  Jesus  therefore  had  received  the  vinegar,  he  said,  It  is  fin- 
ished.— John  xix.  30. 

Perhaps  these  words  formed  the  sixth  cry  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  on  the  cross.  The  glorious  close  of  all  his  sufferings 
was  now  arrived  ;  and,  full  of  these  high  ideas  which  occu- 
pied his  holy  mind,  he  cried  out,  "  It  is  finished."  What  is 
finished  ?  Redemption  work  is  finished.  All  the  long  series 
of  prophesies,  visions,  types,  and  the  shadow  of  the  good 
things  to  come,  which  pointed  to  Jesus,  and  redemption  by 
him,  were  now  finished  in  their  accomplishment.  The  law 
was  finished  in  its  condemning  power  ;  and  the  gospel  com- 
menced its  saving  influence.  Jesus,  by  that  one  sacrifice  now 
offered,  had  for  ever  perfected  them  that  u'ere  sanctified.  The 
separation  between  Jew  and  Gentile  was  now  finished,  and 
done  away  for  ever.  Jesus  had  now  gathered  together  in 
one  all  the  children  of  God  which  were  scattered  abroad. 
The  iron  reign  of  sin  and  Satan,  of  death  and  hell,  were  now 


100  MORNING   PORTION. 

broken  in  pieces  by  this  Stone  cut  out  of  the  mountain  with- 
out hands ;  and  life  and  immortality,  pardon,  mercy,  and 
peace,  were  brought  to  light,  and  secured  to  the  faithful,  by 
this  finished  redemption  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  The 
peace,  the  love,  the  favour  of  God  the  Father,  was  now  mani- 
fested, and  that  spiritual  kingdom  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  which 
shall  have  no  end,  was  from  this  moment  set  up  in  the  hearts 
and  minds  of  his  people.  The  sure  descent  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  was  now  confirmed :  and  the  Lord  Jesus  already,  by 
anticipation,  beheld  his  Israel  of  old,  and  his  Gentile  church, 
as  well  as  Ethiopia  and  the  multitude  of  the  isles,  stretching 
forth  their  hands  unto  God.  With  these  and  the  like  glorious 
prospects  the  mind  of  Jesus  was  filled  ;  and  having  received 
the  vinegar,  as  the  last  prophecy  remaining  then  to  be  com- 
pleted, hecried  out,  '•  It  is  finished."  My  soul !  never  let  these 
precious,  precious  words  of  Jesus  depart  from  thy  mind.  Do  by 
them  as  Moses  commanded  Israel  concerning  the  words  he 
gave  them ;  let  them  be  in  thy  heart  and  in  thy  soul :  bind 
them  as  a  sign  upon  thine  hand,  and  let  them  be  as  frontlets 
between  thine  eyes.  Tell  thy  God  and  Father  what  thy 
Jesus  has  told  thee — "  It  is  finished."  He  hath  finished  re- 
demption for  thee ;  and  He  will  finish  redemption  in  thee. 
He  hath  destroyed  death,  hath  satisfied  and  glorified  the  law, 
taken  away  the  curse,  made  full  restitution  for  sin,  brought 
in  an  everlasting  righteousness,  and  opened  the  glorious 
mansions  of  the  blessed  as  the  home  and  rest  of  all  his  peo- 
ple. Oh  !  my  soul,  let  these  dying  words  of  thy  Jesus  be 
made  by  thee  as  an  answer  to  all  thy  prayers,  and  begin  that 
song  to  the  Lamb,  which,  ere  long  thou  wilt  fully  and  loudly 
sing  among  the  church  above — Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that 
was  slain  ;  for  thou  wast  slain,  and  has  redeemed  us  to  God 
by  thy  blood. 

15. — And  when  Jesus  had  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  he  said,  Father,  into 
thy  hands  I  commend  my  spirit ;  and  having  thus  said,  he  gave  up 
the  Ghost. — Luke  xxiii.  46. 

My  soul !  ponder  well  these  last  of  the  last  seven  words  of 
thy  God  and  Saviour,  which  he  uttered  on  the  cross  ;  for 
surely  they  are  most  sweet  and  precious,  and  highly  interest- 
ing, both  on  thy  Saviour's  account  and  thine  own.  And  first 
remark  the  manner  in  which  the  Lord  Jesus  thus  breathed 
out  his  soul:  not  like  a  man  spent  and  exhausted, after  hang- 
ing so  many  hours  on  the  cross,  faint  with  loss  of  blood,  and 


APRIL.  101 

such  agonies  of  soul  as  never  one  before  endured  ;  but  it  was 
with  a  loud  voice,  thereby  proving  what  he  had  before  de- 
clared— "  No  man  taketh  my  life  from  me  ;  I  have  power  to 
lay  it  down  ;  I  have  power  to  take  it  again."  Precious  Jesus  ! 
how  sweet  this  assurance  to  thy  people.  But  wherefore  cry 
with  a  loud  voice  1  A  whisper,  nay,  a  thought  of  the  soul 
only,  if  with  an  eye  of  communication  to  God  the  Father, 
would  have  been  sufficient,  if  this  had  been  all  that  was  in- 
tended. Wherefore  then  did  Jesus  cry  with  a  loud  voice  ? 
Was  it  not  that  all  in  heaven,  and  all  in  hell,  might  hear  ? 
Did  not  angels  shout  at  the  cry  1  Did  not  the  spirits  of  just 
men  made  perfect  among  the  faithful  gone  to  glory  in  Jesus' 
name,  hear  and  sing  aloud  ?  Did  not  all  hell  tremble  when 
Jesus  thus  cried  aloud,  conscious  that  the  keys  of  the  grave, 
and  death,  and  hell,  were  now  put  into  his  Almighty  hand  ? 
Oh,  precious,  precious  Jesus  !  was  this  among  thy  gracious 
designs  for  which,  when  thou  wert  retiring  from  the  bloody 
field  of  battle,  as  a  conquerer,  thy  loud  voice  shouted  Victory  ? 
And  was  there  not  another  sweet  and  gracious  design  in  this 
loud  cry,  oh  thou  blessed  Jesus?  Didst  thou  not  intend 
thereby  that  poor  sinners,  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth,  might, 
by  faith,  hear,  and  believe  to  the  salvation  of  their  souls  ? 
Didst  thou  not,  dearest  Lord !  when  bowing  thy  sacred  head, 
as  if  to  take  a  parting  look  of  the  disciple  and  the  Marys,  at 
the  foot  of  the  cross,  and  beholding  them  as  the  representa- 
tives of  all  the  members  of  thy  mystical  body,  didst  cry  with 
a  loud  voice,  that  all  with  them  might  behold  thy  triumphs, 
and  rejoice  in  thee  their  glorious  Head  ?  Yes,  Lamb  of 
God  !  we  adore  thee  in  this  glorious  act ;  for  we  do  accept  it 
as  it  really  is,  the  act  of  our  one  glorious  Head,  In  this  so- 
lemn committing  of  thy  Spirit  to  the  Father,  we  consider  our 
spirits  also  as  committed  with  thee,  and  by  thee.  My  soul ! 
mark  this  down  carefully  in  the  inmost  tablet  of  thine  heart. 
In  all  this,  blessed  Jesus!  thou  wert,  and  art,  our  Head. 
Thou  didst,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  take  every  individual 
believer  of  thine  as  a  part  of  thyself,  and  by  this  act  didst 
commit,  with  thyself,  the  whole  into  thy  Father's  hands,  to 
be  kept  until  the  hour  of  their  dropping  their  bodies,  then  to 
be  united  to  thee  for  ever.  Oh  !  precious  Jesus  !  oh  precious 
mercy  of  our  Jesus,  how  safe,  how  eternally  safe  and  secure, 
are  all  thy  redeemed !  Well  might  thine  Apostle  say,  "  No 
man  liveth  to  himself,  and  no  man  dieth  to  himself ;  for  in 
Jesus  his  people  ever  live,  and  in  Jesus  they  securely  die." 
Henceforth,  dear  Lord !  let  me  know  myself  to  be  already 

9* 


102  MORNING   PORTION. 

committed  with  thee,  and  by  thee,  into  the  hands  of  my  God 
and  Father  in  Jesus,  and  when  the  hour  cometh  that  the  cas- 
ket, in  which  that  precious  jewel,  my  soul,  now  dwells,  is 
opened  for  the  soul  to  take  her  departure,  oh  then  for  faith, 
for  lively,  active,  earnest  faith,  to  follow  the  example  and  to 
adopt  the  very  language,  of  my  God  and  Saviour,  and  to 
cry  out — Lord  Jesus,  into  thy  hands  I  commend  my  spirit ; 
for  thou  hast  redeemed  me,  O  Lord,  thou  God  of  truth  ! 

16. — There  laid  they  Jesus. — John  xix.  42. 

My  soul !  it  is  usual  for  the  relations  and  friends  of  those 
that  are  deceased  to  attend  the  funeral.  Art  thou  a  friend,  a 
relation  of  Jesus  ?  Oh  !  yes  ;  I  trust  thou  art.  He  was,  and 
is,  the  dearest  of  all  friends,  the  nearest  of  all  relations.  He 
is  at  once  all  and  every  one — the  Father,  the  Husband,  the 
Brother.  The  invitation  is  therefore  sent  to  thee,  personally 
to  thee.  Every  voice  of  affection  calls  thee  to  the  tomb  of 
Jesus,  saying,  "  Come,  see  the  place  where  the  Lord  lay." 
And  if,  like  Mary  Magdalene,  from  more  abundant  love,  thou 
art  asking,  "Where  have  they  laid  him?" — the  answer  im- 
mediately is  returned,  Come  and  see.  Yes,  thou  dear  Re- 
deemer !  by  that  faith  thou  hast  graciously  given  me,  I  will 
come  and  see.  Let  my  faith  take  wing,  and  light  down  in 
Joseph  of  Arimathea's  garden,  and  behold  the  place  where 
the  Lord  lay.  Was  this  the  memorable  spot  ?  Did  Jesus  lay 
here  ?  Did  he  here  make  (according  to  the  ancient  prophecy 
foretold  of  him)  his  grave  with  the  wicked  and  with  the  rich 
in  his  death,  because  he  had  done  no  violence,  neither  was 
any  deceit  in  his  mouth  ?  Here  let  me  look ;  here  let  my 
soul  wander  in  contemplation!  Oh!  what  a  marvellous 
sight  to  behold  Jesus  thus  lain  in  the  grave !  Surely  we  may 
cry  out,  as  the  church  did  in  the  view,  "  My  beloved  is  white 
and  ruddy."  Never  did  death  so  triumph  before.  Never 
did  the  grave  receive  and  hold  such  a  prisoner.  But,  my 
soul,  behold  also,  in  the  view,  how  Jesus  triumphed  even  in 
death.  It  was  through  death  he  destroyed  him  that  had  the 
power  of  death — that  is,  the  devil,  that  he  might  deliver  them 
who,  through  fear  of  death,  are  all  their  life-time  subject  to 
bondage.  And  what  saith  Jesus  to  my  soul  from  the  grave  % 
Fear  not,  I  have  the  keys  of  death  and  the  grave :  fear  not 
to  go  down  to  the  Egypt  of  the  grave ;  I  will  go  with  thee, 
and  will  surely  bring  thee  up  again  from  thence.  And  ob- 
serve, my  soul,  as  the  grave  could  not  detain  thy  Lord,  thine 


APRIL.  103 

Head,  a  prisoner  ;  so  neither  can  the  grave  beyond  the  ap- 
pointed time,  detain  any  of  his  members.  And  as  the  union 
between  the  Godhead  and  the  manhood  in  Jesus  was  not 
broken  off  by  death,  so  neither  can  the  union  between  Jesus 
and  his  people  be  interrupted  by  death.  The  covenant  of 
redemption,  the  union  of  Jesus  with  his  people,  the  love  of 
God  in  Christ  to  the  souls  and  bodies  of  his  redeemed,  all 
these  rot  not  in  the  grave :  nay,  where  sin  is  taken  out,  the 
very  enmity  of  the  grave  is  slain  :  and  though  it  acts  as  a  de- 
vourei"  of  our  corrupt  bodies,  yet  it  acts  as  a  preserver  also  of 
the  refined  part,  that  the  dust  and  ashes  of  his  saints  Jesus 
may  visit,  and  manifest  his  care  over  from  day  to  day.  Precious 
Lord  !  here  then,  as  in  every  thing,  thou  hast  the  pre-emi- 
nence. Thou  hast  gone  before  :  thou  hast  sweetly  perfumed 
the  grave  by  having  lain  there.  And  where  should  the  dy- 
ing members  be  but  where  their  living  Head  hath  been  be- 
fore ?  Hence,  then,  my  soul,  take  comfort,  and  fear  not  when 
thy  partner  the  body  is  called  upon  to  go  down  to  the  grave. 
When  the  soul  flies  to  Jesus  in  heaven,  the  body  will  sweetly 
rest  in  Jesus  till  summoned  from  the  grave.  Thy  God,  thy 
Jesus,  hath  the  appointment  for  thy  departure  ;  both  the  place 
where,  the  time  when,  and  the  manner  how,  are  all  with  him. 
He  hath  the  keys  both  to  open  the  door  of  death,  and  to  open 
the  kingdom  of  heaven.  Leave  all  then  with  him.  Fre- 
quently, by  faith,  visit  his  sepulchre,  and  behold  where  they 
laid  him.  And  in  the  triumphs  of  thy  Jesus,  as  thine  head, 
already  take  part,  as  a  member  of  his  body,  crying  out  with 
the  Apostle,  "  O  death,  where  is  thy  sting  ;  O  grave,  where 
is  thy  victory  ?  God  be  praised  who  giveth  us  the  victory, 
throuofh  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ" 


17. — The  Lord  is  risen  indeed. — Luke  xxiv.  34. 

Let  thy  meditations,  my  soul,  this  morning  be  sweetly  ex- 
ercised upon  thy  risen  and  exalted  Saviour.  For  if  thy  Lord 
be  indeed  risen,  then  will  it  undeniably  follow,  that  as  he  died 
for  our  sins,  so  he  arose  for  our  justification,  and  is  thereby 
become  the  first  fruits  of  them  that  sleep.  Beg  of  God  the 
Holy  Ghost  to  lead  thee  into  the  devout  contemplation  and 
enjoyment  of  this  soul-reviving  subject.  Trace  the  testimo- 
nies of  this  wonderful  event,  until,  from  being  overpowered 
in  the  vast  assemblage  of  witnesses,  thou  art  prompted  to  cry 
out  in  the  same  language,  "  The  Lord  is  risen  indeed."  And 
surely  never  was  there  any  one  fact  so  fully,  so  clearly,  and 


104  MORNING   PORTION. 

SO  circumstantially  confirmed.  It  hath  the  united  testimony 
of  heaven  and  earth ;  of  angels  and  men  ;  of  the  living  and 
the  dead ;  of  friends  and  foes ;  and  God  himself  confirming 
it  in  the  midst  of  his  people,  by  sending  down  the  Holy 
Ghost  agreeably  to  the  promise  of  Jesus  at  the  day  of  Pente- 
cost. Review  these  things  in  order.  First,^  heaven  gave  in 
its  evidence  in  those  supernatural  signs,  which  issued  in  the 
morning  of  Jesus'  resurrection  ;  for  we  are  told  that  an  angel 
descended  from  heaven,  and  rolled  back  the  stone  from  the 
door  of  Jesus'  sepulchre,  and  sat  upon  it.  And,  secondly^ 
earth  gave  her  testimony  also  to  the  same,  by  the  convulsions 
sustained  at  his  approach — there  was  a  great  earthquake. 
And  then  again,  as  angels  came  to  inform  the  pious  women 
who  waited  to  embalm  the  sacred  body  of  Christ,  that  Jesus 
was  risen  ;  so  the  testimony  of  multitudes  among  men  gave 
equal  attestation  to  this  glorious  truth.  For  beside  the  many 
separate  and  distinct  appearances  Jesus  made  to  numbers,  he 
appeared  to  above  five  hundred  brethren  at  once,  by  way  of 
confirming  the  undoubted  fact.  The  living^  who  ate  and 
drank  with  him  after  he  arose  from  the  dead,  surely  could 
not  be  mistaken.  And  the  dead^  which  arose  from  their 
graves,  as  if  to  celebrate  the  glories  of  his  resurrection,  in 
which  they  took  part,  came  forth,  when  the  sepulchres 
yawned  at  "the  triumph  of  Jesus,  and  went  into  the  holy  city 
and  appeared  unto  many.  And  not  only  the  friends  of  Jesus, 
but  the  foes  of  Jesus,  became  undesignedly  the  witnesses  of 
this  great  truth:  for  by  attributing  his  resurrection  to  the 
disciples'  stealing  away  his  body,  they  positively  prove  that 
the  body  of  Christ  remained  not  in  the  sepulchre.  And  that 
the  poor  timid  disciples,  whose  meetings  were  all  in  secret, 
for  fear  of  the  Jews,  should  project  such  a  scheme  as  to  take 
away  the  body,  which  the  Roman  soldiers  were  purposely 
placed  to  secure,  is  not  to  be  equalled  in  folly  in  the  very 
idea,  unless  by  that  other  part  of  the  childish  story,  that  the 
body  was  stolen  while  the  guard  slept ;  and  so  the  testimony, 
it  should  seem,  to  this  tale,  is  the  testimony  of  men  sleeping ! 
Here,  then,  my  soul,  in  devout  contemplation^  take  thy  stand 
at  the  door  of  the  sepulchre  of  thy  Jesus,  and  ponder  over 
such  a  multitude  of  witnesses  who  all  cry  out,  with  one  voice, 
as  the  angels  did  to  the  astonished  women,  "  He  is  not  here ; 
for  he  is  risen,  as  he  said.  Come,  see  the  place  where  the 
Lord  lay."  And  oh  !  thou  dear  Redeemer  !  do  thou,  while 
my  soul  is  pondering  these  things,  do  thou  draw  nigh,  as 
thou  didst  to  thy  disciples  on  the  morning  of  thy  resurrection^ 


ATRIL.  1 05 

and  sweetly  commune  with  me  of  all  these  blessed  truths 
concerning  thj^self ;  lead  me,  by  faith,  through  all  the  pre- 
cious subject,  from  the  sepulchre  to  thine  house  of  prayer,  to 
the  ordinance  and  thy  table,  from  thy  cross  to  thy  crown ; 
and  cause  my  whole  heart  to  burn  within  me,  while  thou  art 
talking  to  me  by  the  way,  and  while  thou  art  opening  to  me 
the  Scriptures.  Then  shall  I  truly  rejoice  that  my  Lord  is 
indeed  risen  from  the  dead,  and  my  soul  is  risen  with  him, 
from  dead  works  to  serve  thee  the  living  and  true  God. 


18. — And  declared  to  be  the  Son  of  God  with  power  ;  according  to  the 
Spirit  of  Holiness,  by  the  resurrection  from  the  dead. — Romans  i.  4. 

Do  not,  my  soul,  hastily  pass  away  from  this  most  pre- 
cious subject  of  thy  Lord's  resurrection.  It  is  an  inexhaustible 
theme,  and  will  be  am.ong  thy  felicities  in  eternity.  Yester- 
day, thou  didst  but  barely  consider  the  fact.  Let  this  day 
occupy  thy  thoughts  on  another  sweet  portion  of  it,  in  be- 
holding how  Jesus  effected  it  by  his  own  power  and  God- 
head. He  had  said  before,  that  he  had  power  to  lay  down 
his  life,  and  power  to  take  it  again.  And  he  had  told  the 
Jews  to  destroy  the  temple,  by  which  he  meant  the  temple  of 
his  body,  and  he  would  raise  it  again  in  three  days.  He  had 
proclaimed  himself  to  be  the  resurrection  and  the  life:  and 
here  he  proved  it,  when  he  was  declared  to  be  the  Son  of 
God  with  power ;  according  to  the  Spirit  of  holiness,  by  his 
resurrection  from  the  dead.  Now,  then,  pause  over  this  glo- 
rious view  of  Him  who  was  thus  proved  to  be  one  with  the 
Father,  and  who,  at  the  same  time,  was  one  in  thy  nature, 
bone  of  thy  bone,  and  flesh  of  thy  flesh.  Beautiful  and  com- 
prehensive is  the  expression:  declared  to  be  the  Son  of  God; 
for  who  but  God  could  accomplish  such  an  event  ?  And  by 
the  Spirit  of  holiness  he  was  equally  declared  to  be  not  liable 
to  corruption ;  for,  as  God's  Holy  One,  it  was  impossible  that 
his  flesh  should  see  corruption.  Psalm  xvi.  10.  And  the 
Holy  Ghost  again,  by  Peter  the  Apostle,  explains  it  when  he 
saith,  "  Christ  was  put  to  death  in  the  flesh,  but  quickened  in 
the  Spirit."  1  Pet.  iii.  18.  The  flesh  here  means  his  human 
nature ;  and  the  quickening  by  the  Spirit  (being  what  is 
called  the  antithesis,  that  is,  the  opposite  to  flesh)  means  his 
own  Spirit,  his  own  power  and  Godhead  ;  similar  to  what  is 
said  in  the  Hebrews  concerning  the  offering  of  Jesus,  that 
through  the  Eternal  Spirit  he  offered  himself^  Heb.  ix.  14. — 
meaning,  that  his  Godhead  gave  dignity  and  value  to  the 


106  MORNING    PORTION. 

offering  of  his  body  for  the  sins  of  his  people.  Ponder  this 
blessed  truth,  my  soul ;  for  it  is  most  blessed,  and  of  much 
greater  importance  than  at  the  first  view  of  the  words,  it  may 
strike  you.  Behold  in  it,  that  it  was  the  Godhead  of  Jesus 
by  which  thy  Jesus  triumphed  over  death  and  the  grave. 
The  Father's  hand  was  in  it  most  certain,  as  it  was  in  all  the 
other  acts  of  redemption;  for  the  Holy  Ghost  taught  the 
church,  by  Paul,  that  God  had  raised  up  the  Lord.  1  Cor. 
vi.  14.  And  manifested  by  this,  saith  the  Holy  Ghost,  that 
he  was  the  God  of  Peace,  in  bringing  again  from  the  dead 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Heb.  xiii.  20.  And  the  Holy  Ghost 
had  his  almighty  hand  in  the  same  ;  for  it  is  the  Spirit  that 
quickeneth ;  and  hence  Christ  is  said  to  have  been  justified 
in  the  Spirit.  1  Tim.  iii.  16.  But  while  we  are  taught  by 
these  Scriptures,  and  others  to  the  same  purport,  to  behold 
both  the  Father  and  the  Holy  Ghost  acting  in  the  resurrec- 
tion of  Jesus — by  this,  and  others  of  the  same  kind,  we  are 
taught  to  view  the  Godhead  in  Christ  as  the  cause  of  his 
resurrection.  For  if  Jesus  had  been  raised  by  the  power  of 
the  Father  and  the  Holy  Ghost  only,  how  would  he  have 
been  declared  to  be  the  Son  of  God  by  his  resurrection? 
For,  in  this  case,  nothing  more  would  have  been  manifested 
in  his  resurrection  than  in  the  resurrection  of  others ;  for  it 
is  by  the  power  of  God  that  the  dead  are  to  be  raised. 
Hence,  my  soul,  behold  the  vast  importance  of  this  great 
point  in  the  resurrection  of  thy  Lord:  and  never  lose  sight 
of  this  blessed  truth,  that  thy  Jesus,  vv^ho  is  thy  resurrection 
and  thy  life,  arose  himself  by  this  self-quickening  principle. 
Behold,  in  this  point  of  view,  what  a  glorious  truth  is  the  re- 
surrection of  Jesus.  And  what  a  lovely  promise  did  the 
Lord,  by  the  Prophet,  give  to  all  the  people  of  God  concern- 
ing this,  ages  before  this  glorious  event  took  place — "  Thy 
dead  men  shall  live ;  together  with  my  dead  body  shall  they 
arise.  Awake  and  sing,  ye  that  dwell  in  the  dust ;  for  thy 
dew  is  as  the  dew  of  herbs,  and  the  earth  shall  cast  out  her 
dead."  Isaiah  xxvi.  19. 


19. — Who  was  delivered  for  our  offences,  and  raised  again  for  our  justi- 
fication.— Romans  vi.  25. 

My  soul,  thou  must  not  yet  dismiss — no,  nor  ever  dismiss, 
the  sweet  and  precious  subject  of  thy  Lord's  resurrection. 
One  part  of  it  thou  hast  not  yet  scarce  glanced  at ;  and  yet  it 
is  such  a  one  as  thine  everlasting  safety,  and  thy  justification 


APRIL.  107 

before  God,  depends  upon.  "  For,"  as  the  Holy  Ghost  hath 
said,  by  the  mouth  of  his  servant,  the  Apostle,  "if  Christ  be 
not  risen,  then  are  believers  yet  in  their  sins."  1  Cor.  15, 
17,  See  to  it  then,  my  soul,  that  what  this  sweet  Scripture 
of  the  morning  saith  be  true,  that  Jesus  was  delivered  for 
thine  offences,  and  w^as  raised  again  for  thy  justification. 
While  Jesus  was  on  the  cross,  and  when  Jesus  was  taken  down 
and  laid  in  the  grave,  the  payment  and  the  ransom  for  sin 
was  then  discharging.  Jesus  was  then  truly  delivered  for 
our  offences.  And  when  he  arose  from  the  dead,  then  the 
poor  sinner,  for  whom  he  was  delivered,  and  for  whom  he 
died,  was  truly  justified  before  God  ;  for  thereby  proof  was 
made  that  the  debt  was  paid,  the  receipt  given,  and  God,  in 
confirmation  of  it,  styled  himself  by  a  new  name,  even  the 
God  of  Peace,  in  bringing  again  from  the  dead,  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  as  the  great  Shepherd  of  his  sheep,  through 
the  blood  of  the  everlasting  covenant.  Hence  the  resurrec- 
tion of  Jesus  was  like  going  into  the  presence  of  God  to  can- 
cel the  bond,  the  hand-writing  of  ordinances,  that  was 
against  us.  It  was  as  if  Jesus  gave  this  testimony  in  his 
glorious  resurrection,  that  both  sin  and  death  had  now  lost 
their  retaining  power ;  the  dominion  of  both  were  for  ever 
done  away,  and  all  true  believers  in  Christ  might  join  the 
Apostle's  song — "  Who  shall  lay  any  thing  to  the  charge  of 
God's  elect?  It  is  God  that  justifieth  ;  who  is  he  that  con- 
demneth  ?  It  is  Christ  that  died — yea  rather,  that  is  risen 
again,  who  is  even  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  who  also  maketh 
intercession  for  us."  My  soul,  be  sure  to  keep  this  in  con- 
stant view,  when,  at  any  time,  thou  art  meditating  on  the 
death  and  resurrection  of  Jesus  :  and  let  both  be  thy  daily 
meditation.  Think  how  truly  blessed,  how  truly  happy,  how 
present,  and  everlastingly  secure,  must  those  souls  be  who 
are  interested  in  the  death  and  in  the  resurrection  of  the  Lord 
Jesus.  By  the  one  he  hath  purchased  their  pardon,  and  by 
the  other,  he  had  justified  their  persons  ;  so  that,  when  law 
and  justice  present  their  charge  against  them,  this  is  the  un- 
answerable plea, — Jesus  w^as  delivered  for  our  offences,  and 
raised  again  for  our  justification.  Oh!  dearest  Lord  !  grant 
me  daily  and  hourly  to  be  bringing  into  all  ray  spiritual  en- 
joyments the  sweet  sense  and  consciousness  of  being  thus  in- 
terested, justified,  and  secured.  Give  me  a  present  right 
and  title,  that  I  may  live  upon  it ;  and  by  and  by,  when  thou 
shalt  call  me  home,  then,  O  Lord,  present  me  finally  and 
fully,  once  for  all,  as  made  comely  in  thy  comeliness,  clothed  in 


108  MORNING   PORTION. 

thy  righteousness,  and  fully  prepared,  both  in  soul  and  body,  for 
everlasting  happiness  and  glory  among  them  that  are  sanctified. 

20. — Now  is  Christ  risen  from  tlie  dead,  and  become  the  first  fruits  of 
them  that  slept  — 1  Cor.  xv.  20. 

One  view  more,  my  soul,  while  thou  art  meditating  upon 
this  delightful  subject  of  thy  Redeemer's  triumph  over 
death  and  the  grave,  and  now  look  at  Jesus'  resurrection 
as  a  sure  pledge  and  confirmation  of  thine  own.  Did  Jesus' 
holy  body  arise  ?  Then  so  shalt  thine,  sinful  and  polluted  as 
it  now  is,  but  then  made  a  glorified  body  by  virtue  of  thy 
union  with  him.  For  so  saith  the  Holy  Ghost,  by  his  ser- 
vant the  Apostle,  "  He  shall  change  our  vile  body,  that  it 
may  be  fashioned  like  unto  his  glorious  body.  For  if  the 
Spirit  of  him  that  raised  up  Jesus  from  the  dead,  dwell  in 
you,  he  that  raised  up  Christ  from  the  dead,  shall  also 
quicken  your  mortal  bodies  by  his  Spirit  that  dwelleth  in 
you."  Phil.  iii.  2 1 .  Rom.  viii.  1 1 .  Pause  then,  my  soul,  and 
rejoice  in  this  glorious  and  transporting  doctrine.  As  sure 
as  Jesus  arose,  so  sure  shall  all  his  people :  for  Jesus  arose  as 
the  first  fruits.  Jesus  arose,  not  as  a  private  person,  but  as 
the  public  head.  Never  call  to  mind  the  resurrection  of 
Jesus,  but  be  sure  to  connect  always  with  it  this  blessed  view 
of  the  subject — every  redeemed  believer  is  part  of  Christ's 
body.  And  as  we  are  by  nature  part  of  the  first  Adam,  and 
die,  from  our  union  and  connexion,  and  being  of  the  same 
nature  with  him  ;  so,  by  grace,  being  part  of  Christ's  mysti- 
cal body,  who  is  called  in  Scripture,  particularly  on  this  ac- 
count, the  second  Adam,  his  people  are  interested  in  all  that 
concerns  him,  and  because  he  liveth,  they  must  live  also. 
Hence  he  is  called  the  first  fruits,  the  first  born  from  the  dead. 
And  as  all  the  after  fruits  of  the  harvest  follow  the  first  fruits  ; 
so  the  saints,  born  again  of  God,  follow  the  first  born  from 
the  dead  to  glory.  Oh  !  heart-reviving  subject !  The  eyes 
that  now  read  these  lines,  and  the  hand  that  now  writes 
them,  if  a  part  of  Christ's  mystical  body  by  regeneration, 
must  assuredly  be  a  part  in  the  resurrection.  In  the  eye  of  the 
law,  they  are  one.  Jesus  is  the  head  of  his  body  the  Church  : 
and  how  incomplete  in  glory  would  be  that  glorious  head 
without  the  whole  and  every  individual  member  of  his  fair 
one,  his  spouse,  which  he  hath  betrothed  to  himself  for  ever. 
Shout  then,  my  soul !  and  shout  aloud,  and  say  with  Job — 
"  Though  after  my  skin,  worms  destroy  this  body,  yet  in 


APRIL.  109 

my  flesh  shall  I  see  God,"  My  flesh  shall  moulder  indeed  in 
the  dust,  and  see  corruption.  And  so  would  I  have  it  to  be. 
Vile  and  polluted  as  it  now  is,  and  fighting  as  it  now  doth 
against  my  soul's  desires  and  affections,  methinks,  I  would  not, 
if  it  were  possible,  take  it  with  me  to  heaven  as  it  now  is.  But 
when  Jesus  shall  change  this  vile  body,  and  have  fashioned  it 
like  unto  his  glorious  body,  then  it  will  be  without  spot  or 
v/rinkle.  or  any  such  thing  ;  and  then  soul  and  body  united 
together  in  love,  and  both  united  to  the  Lord,  will  form  one 
united  object  to  praise  and  glorify  God,  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghost,  to  all  eternity !  My  soul,  dwell  upon  these 
things ;  give  thyself  wholly  to  them  ;  and  as  thou  believ- 
est  that  Jesus  died  and  rose  again,  so  equally  believe  also, 
that  all  they  that  sleep  in  Jesus  will  God  bring  with  him. 
For  this  the  Apostle  had  in  commission  from  the  Lord,  to 
tell  all  true  believers  that  when  Jesus  shall  descend  from  hea- 
ven, with  a  shout,  with  the  voice  of  the  archangel,  and  Vv^ith  the 
trump  of  God,  the  dead  in  Christ  shall  arise;  and  then  they 
which  remain  unto  the  coming  of  the  Lord,  shall  be  caught 
up  together  Vv^th  them  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air,  and  so 
shall  they  ever  be  with  the  Lord.  Oh !  for  grace  to  comfort 
one  another  with  these  words. 

21. — The  glory  which  thou  gavest  me  I  have  given  them,  that  they  may 
be  one,  even  as  we  are  one. — John  xviii.  22. 

Those  are  sweet  views  of  Jesus  which  point  to  our  oneness 
and  union  with  him,  by  which  alone  we  derive  an  interest  in 
him,  and  are  made  partakers  both  in  his  grace  and  glory. 
By  virtue  of  this  it  is,  that  the  glory  the  Father  gave  Jesus, 
as  Mediator,  all  his  people  are  interested  in,  and  truly  enjoy. 
For  though,  like  the  heir  of  the  kingdom,  when  an  infant, 
the  babe  is  unconscious  of  his  dignity,  yet  is  not  the  less  en- 
titled to  his  high  birth  and  rank ;  so  the  seed  of  Jesus,  while 
in  this  childhood  of  existence,  though  they  do  not  live  up  to 
their  high  privileges  through  the  weakness  of  their  faith,  yet 
their  claim  in  Jesus  is  not  the  less.  Jesus  hath  given  them 
the  glory  of  being  brought  within  the  covenant ;  the  glory 
of  redemption  ;  the  glory  of  the  Holy  Ghost's  gifts  and  influ- 
ences ;  and,  in  short,  all  the  glory  which  a  state  of  grace  im- 
plies, and  which  is  the  earnest  of  the  future  fulness  of  glory. 
And,  my  soul !  dost  thou  ever  pause  over  this  account  of 
present  glory  as  if  thou  didst  now  truly  know  thine  interest 
in  and  enioyment  of  it?     Look  at  it  only  under  these  two 

10 


110  MORNING    PORTION. 

considerations,  and  then  bow  down  under  a  sense  of  it  in  the 
dust  before  God.  In  the  first,  put  forth  thy  utmost  faculties 
to  calculate  that  glory  which,  if  thou  art  one  of  Jesus'  re- 
deemed people,  thou  now  truly  hast  in  having  union  with 
Christ !  Who  shall  undertake  to  describe  that  glory  imparted 
to  a  poor  worm  of  the  earth,  who  is  brought  into  union  with 
God's  dear  Son  ?  Paul  speaks  of  it  as  an  high  privilege, 
when  he  said,  "  Ye  are  come  to  an  innumerable  company  of 
angels."  But  what  is  the  society  of  angels,  compared  to  an 
union  with  Jesus?  Moreover,  angels  have  no  such  privi- 
lege :  for  while  Jesus  is  to  them  their  Lord  and  Sovereign, 
and  governs  them  by  his  supreme  command,  yet  is  he 
not  to  them  as  he  is  to  his  church,  the  glorious  head  of 
that  church,  which  is  his  body,  and  by  which  he  per- 
petually communicates  to  all  his  members  a  source  of  gra- 
cious and  glorious  influences,  according  to  what  he  hath 
said,  "  Because  I  live,  ye  shall  live  also."  Hence  what  the 
Redeemer  said  to  the  Father  is  explained  on  this  sure  testi- 
mony --"  The  glory  thou  gavest  me  I  have  given  them,  that 
they  may  be  one,  even  as  we  are  one."  Look  at  the  subject 
under  another  consideration.  Hath  not  Jesus  given  present 
glory  to  all  his  redeemed  in  that  communication  which  is 
perpetually  passing  and  repassing  between  him  and  them,  by 
virtue  of  this  oneness,  and  unity,  and  interest,  into  which 
they  are  actually  brought  1  My  soul !  what  saith  thine  ex- 
perience to  this  precious  truth  %  Dost  thou  really  and  truly 
partake  of  what  is  Jesus' ;  and  doth  he  not  really  and  truly 
partake  of  what  is  thine?  Is  there  not  an  exchange,  a 
barter,  a  fellowship,  carried  on  between  thy  glorious  head 
and  thyself?  Surely  thou  hast  communion  in  whatever  be- 
longs to  Christ  as  Mediator,  in  his  righteousness,  in  his  grace, 
his  redemption,  his  glory.  And  doth  not  Jesus  manifest  con- 
tinual tokens  that  he  takes  part  in  all  that  concerns  thee  ;  thy 
sorrows,  thy  wants,  thine  afflictions?  Was  it  not  said  of  him, 
ages  before  his  incarnation,  when  speaking  of  his  people, 
"in  all  their  afiiiction  he  was  afflicted?"  And  is  it  not  said 
now,  that  whosoever  toucheth  his  people,  touched  the  apple 
of  his  eye?  Oh!  unparalleled  grace  !  Oh!  matchless  love  ! 
that  the  Son  of  God  should  thus  manifest  his  affection.  What 
will  you  call  this,  my  soul,  but  what  thy  God  and  Saviour 
hath  called  it — the  glory  which  the  Father  gave  him  he  hath 
given  to  his  people  ?  And  all  this  on  purpose  to  prove  that 
they  are  one  with  him.     Hallelujah  ! 


APRIL.  1  1 1 

22. — Wheresoever  the  carcase  is,  there  will  the  eagles  be  gathered  to- 
gether.— Matt.  xxiv.  28. 

My  soul !  these  are  the  words  of  Jesus,  none  of  which 
should  be  suffered  to  fall  to  the  ground.  No  doubt  much  in- 
struction is  contained  in  this  passage.  An  eagle  is  a  bird  of 
prey :  and  Job  saith  that  the  eagle  hasteth  to  the  prey  as  the 
swift  ships.  Job  ix.  26.  In  all  birds  of  prey  there  is  great 
sagacity,  a  vast  quickness  of  scent  to  smell  their  proper  food 
afar  off;  and  thus  natural  instinct,  added  to  a  rapacious  appe- 
tite, compels  those  creatures  to  fly  swift  to  their  prey,  and  to 
devour  the  carcase.  Is  there  nothing  in  all  this  that  suits  thee, 
my  soul  ?  Oh  !  yes.  If  Jesus  hath  given  thee  a  real  prin- 
ciple of  life  in  himself,  which  becomes  a  spiritual  quickening 
from  day  to  day,  and  from  one  hour  to  another,  thy  hungering 
and  thirsting  for  Jesus  will  be  as  earnest  and  as  importunate 
as  the  instinct  of  nature  in  those  birds  for  daily  food.  Pause, 
my  soul,  and  say — is  it  so  1  Dost  thou  seek  after  Jesus  in 
his  ordinances,  in  his  word,  in  retirement,  in  meditation,  in 
prayer,  in  providences,  and,  in  short,  in  all  the  various  ways 
by  which  thou  mayest  enjoy  him,  as  a  famished  bird  would 
hasten  to  its  prey  1  If  Jesus  be  indeed  the  one  blessed  object 
of  thy  desire,  will  not  this  be  manifested  by  the  earnestness 
of  thy  desires  ?  Did  David  long  for  the  waters  of  Bethle- 
hem when  thirsty  7  Did  he  declare,  that  as  the  hart  panted 
for  the  water-brooks,  so  he  longed  for  the  enjoyment  of  God  7 
Here  then,  my  soul,  mayest  thou  learn  how  to  estimate  the 
real  standard  of  thy  affections  to  thy  Jesus.  Oh  !  for  grace 
to  have  the  soul  exercised  day  and  night,  and  never,  never  to 
give  over  those  longings,  like  pregnant  women,  until  the  full 
desires  of  the  soul  in  Jesus,  and  upon  Jesus,  be  fully  gratified. 
Methinks,  as  the  eagles  gather  together  unto  the  carcase,  so 
should  believers  be  found  feasting  upon  Jesus.  In  Jesus,  and 
his  glorious  excellencies,  every  thing  is  suited  to  the  wants 
of  the  believer:  his  name,  his  person,  his  work,  his  blood,  his 
righteousness  ;  every  perfection,  every  promise,  every  expe- 
rience we  have  had  in  him,  in  times  past,  becomes  food  to  the 
soul.  So  that  the  spiritual  cravings  of  the  soul,  when  the 
soul  is  in  health  and  strength,  like  the  natural  cravings  of  the 
bird  of  prey,  act  like  the  same  instinct  to  lead  to  and  to  feed 
upon  Jesus.  See  then,  my  soul,  whether  this  morning  thou 
art  risen  with  a  keen  appetite  for  Jesus.  Surely  thou  hast 
tasted  that  the  Lord  is  gracious  in  times  past.  And  if  thou 
art  in  health  of  soul,  wilt  thou  not  as  much  hunger  again  for 


112  MORNING    PORTION. 

this  heavenly  food,  as  the  body  of  an  healthy  man  craves  for 
his  morning  meal  1  Oh  !  blessed  Lord  !  give  me  this  ap- 
petite. Excite  an  hungering  in  me  for  thee.  Let  it  be  for 
thyself ;  not  for  thy  gifts  only,  not  for  thy  graces  only,  sweet 
as  these  are  ;  but,  blessed  Jesus,  let  it  be  for  thyself  And  let 
this  desire  be  continual ;  every  day,  and  all  the  day.  And 
let  it  be  wholly  to  thee,  in  all  that  belongs  to  thee :  I  mean, 
after  every  thing  in  Jesus  ;  thy  cross,  if  needful,  as  well  as 
thy  crown  ;  a  love  to  thy  precepts  as  well  as  thy  promises. 
And  oh  !  let  this  desire  be  so  insatiable,  so  earnest,  so  unceas- 
ing, that  nothing  I  have  of  thee  may  so  satisfy  me  that  I 
should  long  no  more  after  thee  ;  but,  rather,  provoke  my 
soul's  appetite,  and  tend  but  to  inflame  my  heart  in  longings 
more  and  more,  till,  from  tasting  of  thee  here  below,  thou 
bringest  me  to  the  fountain-head  of  enjoyment  above,  where 
my  longing  eyes  and  longing  soul  shall  feast  upon  Jesus  and 
his  love  for  ever  and  ever.     Amen. 


23. — For  to  this  end  Christ  both  died,  and  rose,  and  revived,  that  he 
might  be  Lord  both  of  the  dead  and  hving. — Romans  xiv.  9. 

And  was  this  the  cause,  dearest  Jesus  !  of  all  thy  suffer- 
ings, that  thou  mightest  be  the  universal  monarch  on  thine 
eternal  throne  ?  Then  bend  thy  knee,  my  heart,  and  all  the 
affections  of  my  soul,  and  hail  thy  Jesus  Lord  of  all !  Now, 
Lord,  I  see,  through  thy  blessed  teaching,  though  a  fool,  and 
slow  in  heart  to  believe  all  that  the  prophets  have  spoken — 
now  I  see  how  expedient  it  was  that  Christ  should  suffer,  and 
should  enter  into  his  glory.  Yes !  thou  art,  indeed.  Lord 
both  of  dead  and  living — the  dead  to  raise,  even  the  dead  in 
trespasses  and  in  sins  ;  and  the  living,  to  live  in  them,  and  rule 
and  guide  them.  And  as  thou  art  Lord  both  of  dead  and 
living,  so,  precious  Jesus  !  wilt  thou  be  Lord  over  all  the 
dead  and  lifeless  affections  of  thy  redeemed.  Surely,  Lord 
Jesus,  my  soul  may  well  believe  this  ;  for  if,  when  upon  the 
cross,  thou  didst  conquer  death,  now  thou  art  upon  the  throne, 
every  power  must  be  put  beneath  thy  feet.  Shout  then,  my 
soul !  shout  all  ye  followers  of  the  Lord !  never  more  let 
dead  frames,  or  dying  affections,  or  unbelief,  or  all  the  temp 
tations  of  Satan,  cast  us  down.  Is  not  Christ  upon  the  throne  ? 
And  is  he  not  Lord  both  of  dead  and  living?  And  hath  not 
this  Almighty  Lord  both  of  dead  and  living,  power  to  save, 
power  to  quicken  dead  sinners,  and  comfort  living  saints  ;  to 
give  grace  to  the  weak ;  and  to  them  that  have  no  might,  to 


APRIL,  113 

increase  strength  ?  Hath  he  not  power  to  kindle  anew  his 
own  graces  that  he  first  planted  ;  to  bring  back  again  wander- 
ers, to  reclaim  the  long-lost  backsliders,  to  soften  hard  hearts, 
to  bind  up  broken  hearts,  to  justify  the  guilty,  to  sanctify 
the  filthy,  to  adopt  orphans,  to  bless  the  fatherless,  to  be  gra- 
cious, and  kind  and  merciful — in  a  word,  to  be  Jesus?  For 
in  that  one  word  is  summed  up  all !  Oh  !  blessed  Master  !  oh 
for  an  heart  to  love  thee,  to  live  to  thee,  to  walk  with  thee,  to 
rejoice  in  thee,  to  be  always  eyeing  thee  on  thy  throne  ;  and 
never,  never  to  lose  sight  of  thee,  my  glorious,  risen,  and  ex- 
alted Saviour  !  in  this  sweet  and  endearing  point  of  view,  in 
which  thy  servant  the  Apostle  hath  here  represented  thee ; 
that  it  was  for  this  end,  as  well  as  a  thousand  other  blessed 
purposes,  that  Christ  both  died,  and  rose,  and  revived,  that 
he  might  be  Lord  both  of  dead  and  living.  Hallelujah ! 
Amen. 


24. — The  breaker  is  come  up  before  them ;  they  have  broken  up,  and  have 
passed  through  the  gate,  and  are  gone  out  by  it ;  and  their  king  shall 
pass  before  them,  and  the  Lord  on  the  head  of  them. — Micah.  ii.  13. 

Pause,  my  soul,  over  this  precious  scripture,  and  ask  thine 
own  heart  who  this  almighty  Breaker  can  be,  except  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ ;  for  he,  and  he  alone,  answers  to  such  a  divine 
character.  Was  it  not  he  which  came  up  as  the  Breaker 
from  everlasting,  when,  in  the  council  of  peace,  the  divine 
decree  was  broken  open,  and  the  Son  of  God  stood  forth  the 
sinner's  Surety  ?  Was  it  not  he  whom  John  saw  by  vision, 
who  alone  was  found  worthy  in  heaven  to  open  the  book, 
and  loose  the  seals  thereof?  Was  it  not  the  same  precious 
Holy  One  who,  when  in  the  volume  of  the  book  it  was  found 
written  of  him,  that  he  should  fulfil  the  law  of  Jehovah  for 
sinful  man,  cried  out,  "  Lo  !  I  come  ?"  And  was  it  not  Je- 
sus, even  thy  Jesus,  my  soul,  that  in  the  fulness  of  time  came 
up  as  the  Breaker,  to  break  down  the  dreadful  bar  of  separa- 
tion which  sin  had  made  between  God  and  man,  and  to  open 
a  new  and  living  way  for  the  sinner  to  God  by  his  blood  ? 
And  when  he  had  broken  down  the  fence  sin  had  made  in 
disobedience  to  the  divine  law  ;  the  accusations  of  Satan  ;  the 
dominion  of  death  and  the  grave,  by  sustaining  the  whole 
weight  and  burden  of  all  in  his  own  precious  Person  ;  did  he 
not,  as  the  almio^hty  Breaker,  burst  asunder  the  bars  of  death, 
and  prove  himself  thereby  indeed  to  be  this  almighty  Breaker, 
in  such  a  palpable  evidence,  that  it  was  impossible  his  holy 

10* 


114  MORNING    PORTION. 

soul  could  be  hold  en  by  it  ?  And  hath  he  not  broken  through 
all  intervening  obstacles,  ascended  up  on  high,  led  captivity- 
captive,  entered  into  glory,  and  there  ever  liveth  and  appear- 
eth  in  the  presence  of  God  for  us?  Is  not  Jesus  then  this 
almighty  Breaker  ?  But,  my  soul,  look  yet  further.  It  is 
said  also,  in  this  blessed  Scripture,  that  the  Breaker  is  not  only 
come  up  before  them,  (that  is,  his  people,)  but  that  "  they  have 
broken  up,  and  have  passed  through  the  gate,  and  are  gone 
out  by  it ;  and  their  king  shall  pass  before  them,  and  the  Lord 
on  the  head  of  them."  And  so  they  are,  if  so  be  this  al- 
mighty Breaker  hath  broken  down  the  strong  holds  of  sin  and 
Satan  in  which  they  lay  bound  ;  broken  down  the  natural 
hatred  and  enmity  of  their  own  heart  against  God  and  his 
Christ  in  which  they  were  born,  and  in  which  they  lived,  and 
must  have  died,  but  for  his  sovereign  grace  manifested  in 
them  and  towards  them  ;  burst  open  the  prison  doors  of  Satan, 
and  broke  off  his  cursed  chains,  and  brought  them  out :  if 
these  things  are  wrought  and  accomplished  in  the  people, 
may  they  not  be  said,  in  his  strength,  to  have  broken  up  and 
have  passed  through  the  gate  of  Satan's  dominions,  and  are  gone 
out  by  it  into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  sons  of  God  ?  Is  it 
so,  my  soul,  in  thy  experience  ?  Dost  thou  indeed  know  Je- 
sus for  thy  almighty  Breaker,  by  such  sweet  and  precious 
tokens  of  his  love  and  power?  Hath  thy  King  passed  thus 
before  thee,  and  thy  Lord  on  the  head  of  thee  ?  Oh  !  then, 
be  ever  on  the  look  out  for  all  the  renewed  visits  of  his  grace, 
in  which  he  still  acts  as  thine  almighty  Breaker,  in  breaking 
down  all  the  remaining  obstacles  which  thy  unbelief,  and 
fears,  and  doubts,  are  continually  raising  up  against  thy  own 
happiness,  in  his  precious  manifestations.  Look  up  to  him 
daily,  hourly,  minutely,  if  possible,  that  he  may  break  down 
all  the  remains  of  indwelling  corruption  in  thy  nature,  by 
which  these  fears  and  this  unbelief  gets  holdfast  in  thy  soul ; 
and  be  often  on  the  look  out  also  for  that  glorious  day  of 
God,  when  this  almighty  Breaker  shall  finally  and  fully 
come,  and  break  through  the  clouds  to  judgment,  to  break 
down  every  remaining  evil  that  keeps  thee  now  from  the  ever- 
lasting enjoyment  of  thy  Lord.  Hasten,  blessed  Jesus  !  come, 
my  Beloved  !  and,  with  a  glory  infinitely  surpassing  all  con- 
ception, manifest  thyself  as  the  almighty  Breaker,  in  this  full 
display  of  thy  sovereignty  and  power.  And  then,  as  Samson 
(thy  type  in  this  instance)  carried  with  him  the  gates  of  his 
prison,  so  wilt  thou  break  up  and  carry  away  all  the  gates  of 
thy  people's  graves,  and  take  all  thy  redeemed  home  with 


APRIL.  115 

thee  to  glory,  that  where  thou  art,  there  they  shall  be  also. 
Hail,  thou  almighty  Breaker !  Jesus  omnipotent  reigneth  ! 

25. — And  the  apostles  said  unto  the  Lord,  Increase  our  faith. — Lake  xvii.  5. 

Did  the  apostles  need  so  to  pray  ?  Then  well  may  I.  Oh ! 
thou  great  Author  and  .Finisher  of  our  faith!  I  would  look 
up  to  thee,  with  thankfulness,  that  thou  hast  granted  even  the 
smallest  portion  of  faith  to  so  unworthy  a  creature  as  I  am. 
Surely,  my  soul,  it  is  as  great  a  miracle  of  grace  that  my  God 
and  Saviour  should  have  kindled  belief  in  thy  strong  heart, 
amidst  all  the  surrounding  obstructions  of  sin  and  Satan 
which  lay  there  ;  as  when  the  miraculous  fire  from  heaven, 
in  answer  to  the  prophet's  prayer,  came  down  and  consumed 
the  wetted  sacrifice.  I  praise  thee,  my  God  and  King,  this 
day,  in  the  recollection  of  this  unspeakable,  unmerited  mercy. 
And  though  this  faith  in  my  heart  still  be  but  as  a  grain  of 
mustard  seed ;  though  it  be  but  as  a  spark  in  the  ocean ; 
though  it  be  but  as  the  drop  of  the  dew,  in  comparison  of 
the  river  ;  yet,  blessed,  precious  Jesus  !  still  this  is  faith,  and 
it  is  thy  gift.  And  is  it  not  a  token  of  thy  favour  1  Is  it  not 
an  earnest  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  a  pledge  of  the  promised 
inheritance?  Babes  in  faith,  as  well  as  the  strong  in  the 
Lord,  are  equally  thine :  for  it  is  said,  that  as  many  as  were 
ordained  to  eternal  life  believed;  (Acts  xiii.  48.)  and  to  as 
many  as  believed,  thou  gavest  power  to  become  the  sons  of 
God  :  so  it  is  by  thyself,  blessed  Redeemer  !  and  not  by  the 
strength  or  weakness  of  the  faith  of  thy  people,  their  justi- 
fication before  God  the  Father  is  secured.  Precious  is  that 
Scripture  which  tells  us,  that  by  thee  all  that  believe,  whether 
great  faith  or  little  faith — all  that  believe^  are  justified  from 
all  things.  Acts  xiii.  32.  But,  my  soul,  while  the  con- 
sciousness of  thy  possessing  the  smallest  evidences  of  faith 
in  thy  beloved,  gives  thee  a  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of 
glory,  dost  thou  not  blush  to  think  what  ungrateful  returns 
thou  art  making  to  thy  Redeemer  in  the  littleness  of  thy 
faith  in  such  a  God  and  Saviour  ?  Whence  is  it  that  thine 
affections  are  so  warm  in  a  thousand  lesser  things,  and  so 
cold  towards  Jesus  ?  Whence  that  his  holy  word  thou  so 
often  hearest  as  though  thou  heardest  not?  Whence  the  or- 
dinances of  Jesus'  house,  the  promises  of  his  Scriptures,  the 
visits  of  his  grace ;  whence  these  pass  again  and  again  be- 
fore thee,  and  thou  remainest  so  cold  and  lifeless  in  thy  affec- 
tions ?     Whence  that  the  temptations  of  Satan,  the  corrup- 


116  MORNING  PORTION. 

tions  of  thine  heart,  the  allurements  of  the  world,  gain  any 
influence  upon  thee?  Whence  that  thou  art  so  anxious 
about  things  that  perish ;  about  any  thing,  about  nothing, 
deserving  to  be  called  interesting ;  whence  so  seldom  at  the 
court  of  the  heavenly  King,  where  thou  oughtest  to  be  found 
daily,  hourly,  waiting  ;  and  whence,  under  trials,  or  the  want 
of  answers  at  a  mercy-seat,  fretful,  impatient,  and  misgiving 
— whence  all  these,  and  numberless  other  evils,  but  from  the 
weakness  and  littleness  of  thy  Jove  to  Jesus,  thy  trust  in 
Jesus,  thy  dependence  upon  Jesus,  and  thy  comnmnion  with 
Jesus?  All,  all  arise  out  of  this  one  sad  cause,  my  soul, 
thine  unbelief  Jesus!  Master!  look  upon  me,  put  the  cry 
with  earnestness  in  my  heart,  that  I  may  unceasingly,  with 
the  Apostles'  prayer,  be  sending  forth  this  as  the  first  and 
greatest  petition  of  my  whole  soul — "  Lord !  increase  my 
faith !" 


26. — Thy  teeth  are  like  a  flock  of  sheep  that  are  even  shorn,  which  come 
up  from  the  washing  ;  whereof  every  one  bear  twins,  and  none  is 
barren  among  them. — Song  iv.  2. 

See,  my  soul,  how  Jesus  sets  off  the  beauties  of  his  church, 
when  made  comely  in  his  comeliness,  which  he  hath  put 
upon  it.  Jesus'  whole  church  forms  but  one  flock;  for  there 
shall  be  one  fold  and  one  shepherd.  And  though  it  is  called 
a  little  flock,  and  a  flock  of  slaughter,  yet  it  is  a  beautiful 
flock  in  the  Lord's  hand.  But  wherefore  are  the  teeth  of  the 
church  said  to  be  like  a  flock  shorn  ?  Probably  from  their 
never  being  exercised  but  upon  divine  things :  shorn  to  all 
desires  in  which  unshorn  and  carnal  persons  delight.  The 
believer  feeds  on  Jesus :  his  flesh  he  finds  to  be  meat  indeed, 
his  blood  drink  indeed.  To  the  roof  of  his  mouth  this 
becomes  like  the  best  wine,  which  goeth  down  sweetly,  caus- 
ing even  the  lips  of  those  that  sleep  to  speak.  And  how  do 
believers,  like  sheep,  come  up  from  the  washing ;  but  when 
from  the  washing  of  regeneration,  and  the  renewing  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  shed  upon  them  abundantly,  through  Jesus 
Christ,  they  come  up  clean  and  washed  in  Jesus'  blood,  and 
adorned  in  the  robe  of  Jesus'  righteousness,  and  are  pre- 
sented before  God  and  the  Father,  and  accepted  in  the 
Beloved  ?  And  oh  1  how  fruitful  are  they,  like  sheep  which 
bear  twins!  None  are  barren  or  unfruitful  among  them, 
because  they  show  forth  the  praises  of  him  who  hath  called 
them  out  of  darkness  into  his  marvellous  light.     The  twin 


APRIL.  117 

graces,  if  they  may  so  be  called,  of  faith  and  love,  of  prayer 
and  praise,  mark  whose  they  are,  and  to  whom  they  belong-. 
The  old  fleece  of  nature  being-  taken  from  them,  they  are 
shorn  to  the  world.  And  the  former  filthiness  and  unclean- 
liness  of  mind  they  are  washed  from  to  themselves ;  and 
hence  they  come  up  to  mention  the  loving  kindness  of  the 
Lord,  and  to  prove  that  they  are  neither  barren  nor  unfruitful 
in  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord,  and  in  the  power  of  his 
might.  My  soul !  is  this  thy  state  ?  Are  thy  teeth  like  this 
flock  ?  and  thy  knowledge  and  enjoyment  of  Jesus  a  real 
heart-feh  enjoyment  of  him  ?  Canst  thou  truly  relish  nothing 
of  food  but  what  hath  Jesus  in  it  ?  Is  nothing  pleasant  to  thy 
taste  but  this  bread  of  God,  which  came  down  from  heaven? 
Comfort  thyself  then,  my  soul,  that  by  and  by  the  teeth  of 
death  will  separate,  like  the  sheep  that  is  shorn,  the  body  of 
corruption  under  which  thou  still  groanest.  being  burdened ; 
and  thou  shalt  come  up  from  the  washing  in  the  fountain  of 
Jesus'  blood,  clothed  in  his  garment  of  salvation,  and  made 
a  meet  partaker  of  an  inheritance  with  the  saints  in  light ! 

27. — Behold  how  he  loved  hmi  I — Join  xi.  36. 

The  tears  of  Jesus  at  the  tomb  of  Lazarus  produced  that 
astonishment  in  the  mind  of  the  Jews,  that  they  thus  ex- 
claimed !  But  had  they  known,  or  did  the  whole  world 
know,  what  I  know  of  th}'  love  to  me.  thou  dear  Redeemer 
of  my  soul,  every  one  that  heard  it  might  with  greater  won- 
der cry  out,  Behold  how  he  loveth  him !  I  would  for  the 
present  pass  bv,  in  mv  contemplation  of  thy  love,  all  the 
numberless  instances  of  it,  which  I  possess  in  common  with 
thy  church  and  people :  for  though  these  in  every  and  in  all 
cases  carry  with  them  the  tokens  of  a  love  that  passeth  know- 
ledge, yet,  for  the  meditation  of  the  morning,  I  would  pause 
over  the  view  of  Jesus'  love  to  me  a  poor  sinner,  not  as  it  is 
displayed  in  general  mercies,  even  the  glorious  mercies  of  re- 
demption, but  as  those  mercies  come  home,  in  their  persojial 
direction  to  my  own  heart,  even  to  mine.  Think,  my  soul, 
what  a  huge  volume  thou  wilt  have  to  read  over  in  eternit3% 
of  Jesus'  love  to  thee,  as  distinguished,  express,  personal,  and 
particular.  And,  amidst  all  the  several  chapters  of  that  love, 
how  wilt  thou  dwell  with  rapture  on  those  two  sweet  verses 
of  it,  which,  like  the  hymn  in  one  of  the  Psalms,  thou  wik 
have  to  chaunt  aloud,  after  the  review  of  every  blessing  noted 
down  :  for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever :  I  mean,  first,  that 


118  MORNING   PORTION. 

Jesus  should  ever  look  with  pity  on  thee  ;  and  oiext  to  this, 
that  after  such  distinguishing  grace,  the  floods  of  sin  and  cor- 
ruption in  thee  should  not  have  quenched  that  love  and  ex- 
tinguished it  for  ever.  The  thought  of  Jesus'  love,  if  looked 
at  only  in  these  two  points  of  view,  will  be  enough  to  employ 
thy  immortal  faculties  in  contemplation,  and  love,  and  praise, 
to  all  eternity.  Pause,  my  soul,  and  take  a  short  view  of 
each.  Jesus  looked  on  thee,  loved  thee,  called  thee,  redeemed 
thee,  manifested  himself  to  thee,  otherwise  than  he  doth  to 
the  world  ;  and  this  at  a  time  when  thousands  and  tens  of 
thousands  are  passed  by,  of  temper,  mind,  disposition,  and  un- 
derstanding, in  every  point  of  view  vastly  thy  superiors,  and 
far  more  promising  to  glorify  him !  Bow  down,  my  soul, 
while  thou  ponderest  over  the  rich  mercy,  and  refer  all  the 
praise  and  all  the  glory  unto  Him,  whose  free  grace,  not  thy 
deserts,  became  the  sole  cause.  And  when  thou  hast  fully 
turned  this  astonishing  subject  over  in  thy  mind,  think  again, 
that  after  such  distinguishing  grace,  how  increasingly  aston- 
ishing it  is,  that  all  thy  repeated  and  aggravated  transgres- 
sions have  not  extinguished  his  love  towards  thee,  but  that 
Jesus  still  loves,  though  thou  hast  been,  and  still  continuest, 
so  ungrateful.  Oh  !  love  unequalled,  past  all  comprehen- 
sion !  when  shall  this  base,  this  shameful  heart  of  mine  so 
love  thee,  as  to  live  to  thy  glory  ?  Lord,  I  abhor  myself  in 
this  view  of  thy  grace  and  my  vileness  ! 

28. — And  the  Lord  said,  Arise,  aucint  him  ;  for  this  is  he.  Then  Sam- 
uel took  tlie  horn  of  oil,  and  anointed  him  in  the  midst  of  his  breth- 
ren.—1  San.  xvi.  12,  1.3. 

Was  David  singled  out  from  amidst  his  brethren,  to  be  the 
Lord's  anointed  ;  and  do  I  not  behold  in  this  the  representa- 
tion of  Jesus,  that  Holy  One,  concerning  whom  the  Lord 
spake  in  vision,  and  said,  I  have  laid  help  upon  One  that  is 
mighty:  I  have  exalted  One  chosen  out  of  the  people?  Yes  ! 
thou  Lord  our  Righteousness  !  in  this  I  behold  thee.  And 
let  my  soul  make  this  sweet  subject  the  meditation  of  my 
morning  song,  for  surely  it  is  a  lovely  song,  to  hail  thee,  the 
chiefest  among  ten  thousand  !  I  behold  thee  then,  thou  dear 
Emmanuel,  by  the  eye  of /aith,  as  coming  up  from  everlast- 
ing, when  amidst  that  immense  multitude  of  those  thou  dis- 
dainedst  not  to  call  thy  brethren,  thou  stoodest  forth,  in  the 
eternal  view,  as  the  glorious  One,  to  be  the  Christ,  the  God- 
man  Mediator,  for  the  salvation  of  thy  church  and  people. 


APRIL.  119 

Here,  precious  Jesus !  didst  thou  appear,  to  God  our  Father's 
view,  pre-eminent  above  thy  fellows  !  And  of  the  whole 
body,  the  church,  which  God  our  Father  in  the  great  decree 
determined  to  form  as  the  receivers  of  grace  and  mercy,  and 
of  eternal  life  and  salvation,  thou  wert  appointed  their  glo- 
rious Head  ;  that,  i/i  thee,  and  fro?)i  thee,  and  through  thee, 
they  might  become  a  glorious  church,  not  having  spot  or 
wrinkle,  or  any  such  thing,  but  that  thou  mightest  present  it 
to  thyself  in  love.  And  surely,  dearest,  precious  Jesus  !  had 
every  individual  of  thy  redeemed  brethren  been  present,  as 
all  the  sons  of  Jesse  passed  in  review  before  the  prophet,  to 
have  chosen  their  glorious  head,  on  none  but  thee  could  that 
choice  have  fallen.  Ail  voices  would  have  echoed  to  Je- 
hovah's proclamation:  '-Arise,  anoint  him;  for  this  is  He." 
Yes !  truly,  Lord,  thou  art  He  whom  thy  brethren  shall 
praise,  and  all  thy  Father's  children,  with  devout  rapture 
and  holy  joy,  shall  bow  down  before  thee.  Thou  art  heir  of 
all  things,  the  chiefest  and  first-born  in  the  womb  of  mercy. 
It  is  thou  that  art  the  most  entitled  to  the  most  full,  honourable, 
and  unchangeable  right  to  all  thy  Father's  inheritance.  Men 
shall  be  blessed  in  thee,  and  all  nations  shall  call  thee  Blessed. 
My  soul !  delight  thyself  unceasingly  in  this  contemplation 
of  thy  Jesus.  God  thy  Father  hath  chosen  him.  He  hath 
anointed  him  with  the  holy  oil  for  salvation,  and  the  Spirit 
was  given  unto  him,  not  by  measure.  And  is  not  God's 
chosen  thy  chosen  ;  the  Father's  anointed  thine  anointed  !  Is 
there  any  in  heaven,  or  upon  earth,  to  whom  thou  art  look- 
ing for  help,  or  strength,  or  comfort,  or  salvation,  but  to  Jesus? 
Who  but  Jesus,  my  soul,  wouldest  thou  have  for  a  Saviour? 
What  object  so  desirable  as  Jesus  to  claim  thy  love?  Witness 
for  me,  ye  sons  of  light,  ye  angels  that  see  his  face  and  do 
his  pleasure,  that  Jesus  is  my  only  Beloved,  my  Hope,  my 
Portion.  Shortly  I  shall  join  your  assembly,  and  with  you 
bless  and  adore  Jesus  in  endless  song,  the  fairest  and  chiefest 
among-  ten  thousand. 


29. — The  Marriage  of  the  Lamb  is  come,  and  his  wife  hath  made  her- 
self ready.  And  to  her  was  granted,  that  slie  should  be  arrayed  in 
fine  linen,  clean  and  white  :  for  the  fine  linen  is  the  righteousness  of 
saints. — Rev.  xix.  7,  8. 

Behold,  my  soul,  behold  that  day,  that  glorious  day,  in 
which  redemption  is  to  be  consummated,  in  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  ;  when  the  Son  of  God  brings  home  his  bride,  the 


120  MORNING   PORTION. 

church,  the  full  celebration  of  God's  glory,  in  the  happiness 
of  the  redeemed  in  Jesus,  everlasting  joy  will  burst  forth. 
See  how  thy  nature  is  then  to  be  adorned  !  The  whole  body, 
the  church,  is  then  to  be  arrayed  in  the  robes  of  Jesus'  righ- 
teousness, having  been  washed  from  all  their  sins  in  his 
blood.  And  these  nuptial  ornaments  are  to  be  granted  or 
given  to  the  church  ;  for  she  hath  no  righteousness  of  her 
own,  but  as  all  along  in  this  world  she  had  professed,  so  there 
in  the  upper  world  she  triumphantly  sings,  "I  will  greatly 
rejoice  in  the  Lord,  my  soul  shall  be  joyful  in  my  God  ;  for 
he  hath  clothed  me  with  the  garments  of  salvation,  he  hath 
covered  me  with  the  robe  of  righteousness,  as  a  bridegroom 
decketh  himself  with  ornaments,  and  as  a  bride  adorneth  her- 
self with  her  jewels."  Isaiah  Ixi.  10.  Pause,  my  soul,  over  this 
view!  Is  this  to  be  thy  adorning  in  glory?  See  to  it  then, 
my  soul,  that  it  becomes  thy  covering  now.  How  suited  is 
it  to  all  thy  circumstances  !  Thou  hast  no  fine  linen,  nothing 
clean,  nothing  white.  Think  how  comely  Jesus'  robe  of 
righteousness  must  be  to  appear  in !  This  is  the  wedding 
garment  by  faith  worn  at  his  supper  upon  earth,  and  the 
same  in  fruition  in  which  thou  art  to  sit  down  at  his  table 
above.  And  oh  !  how  suitable  a  covering  to  hide  all  thy 
deformity,  to  conceal  and  take  away  all  thy  pollution  !  And 
will  not  this  procure  thee  favour  and  acceptance  with  God  ? 
Is  it  not  thus  that  Jesus'  followers  are  distinguished  from  men 
of  the  world?  Art  thou  now  clothed  with  it?  Hath  God 
the  Spirit  put  it  on  ?  Doth  Jesus  now  send  thee  these  love 
tokens  as  his  betrothed ;  and,  in  the  ordinances  of  his  grace, 
doth  he  grant  thee  many  sweet  espousals?  Oh!  then,  my 
soul,  see  to  it,  that  thy  righteousness  is  that  of  Jesus'  own, 
with  which  his  church  is  arrayed,  and  that  these  robes  are 
always  clean  and  white,  which  are  washed  in  the  blood  of 
the  Lamb,  for,  ere  long,  the  midnight  cry  will  be  heard.  Be- 
hold, the  Bridegroom  cometh,  go  ye  out  to  meet  him !  Oh  ! 
precious  Lord  Jesus !  give  me  to  hear  that  voice  with  joy, 
that  with  holy  wings  of  love,  in  the  last  office  of  faith,  to  be 
then  swallowed  up  in  sight,  I  may  arise  to  enter  with  thee 
into  the  marriage,  to  sit  down  with  thee  for  ever 

30. — Nevertheless,  I  am  continually  with  thee. — Psalm  Ixxiii.  23. 

Yes  !  my  soul,  and  well  is  it  for  thee  that  it  is  so ;  there 
is  a  nevertheless  in  the  precious  redemption  by  Jesus,  which 
secures  thee,  amidst  all  thy  languishing  seasons,  when  to  thy 


APRIL.  121 

view  it  sometimes  appears  as  though  the  Lord  had  forgotten 
to  be  gracious,  and  had  shut  up  his  loving  kindness  in  dis- 
pleasure. And  whence  this  security  but  in  Jesus,  and  the 
covenant  engagements  of  God  thy  Father  in  him  ?  The 
everlasting  v\'orth  and  efficacy  of  the  Redeemer's  righteous- 
ness and  death,  are  the  same  amidst  all  the  changeable  cir- 
cumstances of  his  people's  vrarfare.  By  the  expression  of 
being  continually  with  Jesus,  is  meant,  no  doubt,  that  union 
with  his  person,  as  the  sinner's  Surety,  which  gives  security 
and  firmness  to  the  everlasting  state  and  happiness  of  his  re- 
deemed. And  it  is  this  which  constitutes,  not  only  the  safety 
of  his  people  now,  but  the  happiness  of  his  people  for  ever. 
Heaven  itself,  but  for  Jesus,  and  the  constant  flow  of  righ- 
teousness and  glory  in  him,  and  fro;n  him,  would  cease  to  be 
heaven.  The  souls  of  just  men  made  perfect  could  be  no 
longer  happy  nor  righteous,  but  as  those  supplies  flow  in 
upon  their  souls  from  him.  So  that  the  everlasting  precious- 
ness  of  Jesus,  as  the  glorious  Head  of  his  people,  is  thus  con- 
firmed, and  the  felicity  of  the  church  must  be  wholly  made 
up  from  this  eternal  union  with  him.  Hence,  how  precious 
the  thought,  /  am  coatinuaUy  with  thee  !  And  is  this  thy  por- 
tion, my  soul  1  Art  thou  alive  to  this  sweet  and  soul-reviving 
thought?  Is  Jesus,  thy  Jesus,  continually  with  thee,  and 
thou  continually  with  him?  See  to  it,  that  the  nearness  of 
Jesus  to  thee  hath  the  same  effect  upon  thee,  as  with  things 
in  nature,  when  the  earth  and  the  inhabitants  testify  their 
sense  of  feeling.  Doth  not  the  earth,  and  the  plants,  and  the 
birds,  and  every  thing  look  gay,  when  the  sun  renews  the 
face  of  the  earth,  and  shines  with  loveliness,  to  make  all  na- 
ture smile  ?  And  shall  thy  Sun  of  righteousness  arise  unob- 
served or  unenjoyed,  who  comes  with  healing  in  his  wings? 
Oh !  precious  Jesus !  cause  me  so  to  live  upon  thee  that  I 
may  be  always  eyeing  thee,  in  dark  seasons  as  well  as  bright 
hours  ;  that,  from  never  suffering  thy  dear  image  to  depart 
for  a  moment  from  my  heart,  I  may  be  so  prepared  to  behold 
thy  face  in  open  glory,  when  the  veil  of  this  fl.esh  is  removed, 
and  I  awake  up  after  thy  likeness,  that,  though  I  change  my 
place,  I  shall  not  change  my  company.  In  earth  or  heaven, 
5^et  if  with  thee,  happiness  is  begun  in  the  soul;  and  faith, 
in  lively  exercise,  is  itself  an  anticipation  of  glory,  by  just  so 
much  as  the  soul  realizeth  thy  sweet  presence,  in  being  ever 
with  the  Lord. 

11 


122  MORNliMG    PORTION. 


MAY. 


1. — Thoushalt  call  his  name  Jesus. — Matt.  i.  21. 

This  is  one  more  of  the  Redeemer's  names,  which  is  as 
ointment  poured  forth.  As  if  the  Holy  Ghost  had  been  gra- 
ciously consulting  the  everlasting  comfort  and  happiness  of 
his  people,  and  therefore  commanded  the  church  to  know 
their  Lord  by  so  many  different  and  endearing  appellations. 
As  if  he  had  said.  Are  ^-^ou  kept  back  from  approaching 
him  through  fear?  Oh  !  no  ; — go  to  him,  for  he  is  Emman- 
uel. So  great,  as  God,  that  he  is  able  to  save !  so  tender  and 
near,  as  man,  that  he  is  more  ready  to  "bestow  mercy  than 
you  are  to  ask  it !  Are  you  kept  back  for  want  of  righteous- 
ness ?  Be  not  so,  for  he  is  the  Lord  our  Righteousness,  and 
what  you  need  he  hath  for  you. — Or  are  you  depressed  by 
reason  of  sin  ?  Let  not  this  discourage  you,  for  his  name  is 
purposely  Jesus,  because  he,  and  he  alone,  shall  save  his 
people  from  their  sins.  My  soul !  what  knowest  thou  prac- 
tically and  personally  of  this  most  blessed  name  of  thy  Sa- 
viour? It  is  one  thing  to  have  heard  of  him  as  Jesus,  and 
another  to  know  him  to  be  Jesus.  There  are  multitudes  who 
rest  satisfied  with  the  name.  The  Jews  knew  him,  saw  him, 
conversed  with  him  ;  but  they  knew  him  not  as  a  Saviour. 
Nay,  more  than  this  ;  many  have  had,  and  still  have  an  his- 
torical knowledge  and  belief  that  Jesus  is  a  Saviour,  but  yet 
no  apprehension  or  concern  for  an  interest  in  him.  Thus 
Balaam,  whose  eyes  were  so  far  opened,  but  his  heart  never 
affected,  as  to  have  visions  concerning  Christ.  But  what 
an  awful  account  did  this  impious  creature  give  of  himself! 
I  shall  see  him,  (said  he,)  but  not  now:  I  shall  behold  him, 
but  not  nigh.  Numb.  xxiv.  17.  What  an  awful  state  I  Oh, 
my  soul !  bless  thy  God,  thy  Jesus,  that  thy  knowledge  is  not 
of  the  head  only,  but  of  the  heart.  Thou  hast  not  simply 
heard  of  Jesus,  but  received  him  as  Jesus,  to  the  salvation  of 
thy  soul.  Thou  hast  seen  God  in  Christ ;  the  Father's  name, 
the  Father's  authority  in  him.  Thou  hast  come  to  him  in 
that  name,  and  by  that  authority  as  a  poor  sinner,  and  found 
Jesus  precious.  And  is  not  Jesus  precious  to  thee  ?  Is  not 
the  very  name  of  Jesus  most  precious  ?  As  one  of  old  ex- 
pressed it,  so  hast  thou  found  it,  that  in  this  one  name  of  thy 


MAY.  123 

Lord,  the  whole  of  the  gospel  is  folded  up ;  it  is  the  light,  the 
food,  the  medicine,  the  very  jubilee  of  the  soul.  Yes !  thou 
blessed,  holy,  gracious  Lord  !  Yes  !  thy  name  is  indeed  Je- 
sus, for  thou  art,  thou  wilt  be  Jesus.  And  they  that  know 
thy  name  will  put  their  trust  in  thee,  for  thou  shalt  save  thy 
people  from  their  sins. 

2. — And  they  called   Rebekah,  and  said  nnto  her,  Wilt  thou  go  with 
this  man  ?  and  she  sciid,  I  will  go. — Gen.  xxiv.  58. 

See,  my  soul,  with  what  readiness  Rebekah  determined  to 
accompany  the  servant  of  Abraham  to  Isaac.  And  wilt  thoii" 
not  arise  and  go  forth  at  the  invitation  of  the  servants  of  Jesus, 
who  sends  them  to  call  thee  to  his  arms?  Hath  he  not  by 
the  sweet  constraining  influences  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  as  well 
as  by  the  outward  ministry  of  his  blessed  word,  made  thee 
willing  in  the  day  of  his  power?  Did  the  servant  of  Abra- 
ham give  an  earnest  of  his  master's  affection  in  putting  the 
bracelets  upon  Rebekah's  hands,  and  the  ear-rings,  and  the 
gold?  But  what  was  this  to  the  love-tokens  which  Jesus 
himself  hath  given  thee,  when  he  set  thee  as  a  seal  upon  his 
heart,  and  as  a  seal  upon  his  arm,  and  when  all  the  waters 
of  divine  wrath  his  holy  soul  had  poured  upon  him  for  thy 
sins,  and  all  the  floods  of  corruption,  which  like  a  deluge, 
had  overspread  thy  whole  nature,  could  not  quench  his  love, 
nor  drown  it.  And  if  it  be  demanded,  then,  from  thine  own 
mouth  this  day,  wilt  thou  go  with  this  man,  this  God-man, 
this  Glory-man,  this  Jesus  ?  Wilt  thou  not  instantly  cry  out, 
I  will  go?  Yes!  thou  altogether  lovely  Lord,  thou  chiefest 
and  fairest  among  ten  thousand,  I  will  go  with  thee.  I  would 
forget  mine  own  people,  and  my  father's  house.  For  my 
father's  house  is  a  house  of  bondage.  I  was  born  in  sin,  and 
shapen  in  iniquity.  A  child  of  wrath,  even  as  others,  and 
by  nature  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins.  It  is  thou,  blessed  Je- 
sus, who  hast  delivered  me  from  the  wrath  to  come.  It  is 
thou  who  hast  quickened  me  by  thy  Holy  Spirit  to  a  new 
and  spiritual  life.  It  is  thou  who  hast  sent  thy  servants  to 
call  me  to  thyself,  and  hast  betrothed  me  to  thyself  for  ever. 
And  is  there  any  that  yet  asketh  me.  Wilt  thou  go  with  this 
man?  My  whole  soul  would  outrun  the  question,  and,  like 
the  Aposde,  I  would  answer,  To  whom  else  shall  I  go? 
Witness  for  me  ye  servants  of  my  Lord,  ye  angels,  and  min- 
isters of  light,  I  have  none  in  heaven,  neither  in  earth,  but 
him.     Yes !  thou  dearest  Redeemer !    I  will  go  with  thee, 


124  MORNING   PORTION. 

follow  thee,  live  \Yith  thee,  hang  upon  thee,  die  with  thee, 
nor  even  death  itself  shall  part  thee  and  me.  Oh !  let  those 
precious  words  of  thine,  concerning  thy  church,  be  sweetly- 
felt  in  my  soul,  "  I  will  say,  it  is  my  people :"  and  my  whole 
soul  will  make  her  responses  to  the  gracious  sound,  and  say, 
"  The  Lord  is  my  God." 


3. — Sitting  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  clothed,  and  in  his  right  mind. — 
Luke  viii.  35. 

Look  at  this  man,  my  soul,  and  see  whether  thou  canst 
find  any  resemblance  to  thyself  Before  that  he  heard  the 
voice  of  Jesus,  he  was  under  the  possession  of  the  evil  spirit. 
It  is  said  of  him,  that  he  wore  no  clothes.  He  dwelt  in  no 
house,  but  abode  among  the  tombs.  He  was  cutting  himself 
with  stones.  No  man  could  tame  him,  neither  fetters  nor 
chains  bind  him.  Poor  miserable  creature !  And  yet,  my 
soul,  was  not  this  a  true  emblem  of  thy  state,  and,  indeed,  of 
every  man's  state,  by  nature?  Had  not  Satan  full  possession 
of  thine  heart  and  affections,  my  soul,  before  that  thou  be- 
camest  savingly  acquainted  with  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  ? 
Did  he  not  lead  thee  in  the  pursuit  and  gratification  of  thy 
lusts  and  pleasures  at  his  will?  Thou  mightest  truly  be  said 
to  wear  no  clothes,  for,  so  far  from  having  on  the  garment 
of  Jesus'  righteousness,  in  those  days  of  thine  unregeneracy, 
thou  wert  naked,  to  thy  shame,  in  the  fikh  of  nature.  Thou 
didst  not  dwell  in  the  house  of  God,  nor  even  delight  to  go 
thkher.  And,  as  this  poor  creature  abode  among  the  dead, 
so  didst  thou  live  and  abide  with  characters  like  thyself,  dead 
in  trespasses  and  sins.  And  as  this  miserable  man  was 
wounding  himself,  with  stones,  so  wert  thou,  for  thy  daily 
commission  of  sin  was  giving  wounds  to  thy  soul,  infinitely 
more  alarming  than  the  wounds  he  gave  his  body.  And 
could  no  chains  or  fetters  be  found  strong  enough  to  bind 
him?  so  neither  did  all  the  solemn  commands  and  threaten- 
ing judgments  of  God's  holy  law  act  with  the  least  restraint 
upon  thine  ungoverned  passions.  Pause,  my  soul,  over  the 
representation,  and  acknowledge  how  just  and  striking  the 
similarity.  Then  ask  thyself,  Art  thou  now  sitting  at  the  feet 
of  Jesus,  clothed,  and  in  thy  right  mmd  ?  Yes  !  if  so  be,  like 
this  poor  man,  thou  hast  heard  the  voice  of  Jesus,  and  felt  the 
power  of  his  grace  in  thine  heart.  If  one  like  the  Son  of 
God  hath  set  thee  free,  brought  thee  to  his  fold,  opened  thine 
ear  to  discipline,  and  thine  heart  to  grace,  then  art  thou  free 


MAY.  125 

indeed.  What  sayest  thou,  my  soul,  to  these  things?  Is 
there  this  change,  this  blessed  change,  from  dead  works,  to 
serve  the  living  and  true  God  ?  Oh  !  then  will  not  the  lan- 
guage of  thine  heart  be  like  Jesus  and  his  church  of  old  ?  "  I 
will  greatly  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  my  soul  shall  be  joyful  in 
my  God :  for  he  hath  clothed  me  with  the  garments  of  salva- 
tion, he  hath  covered  me  with  the  robe  of  righteousness,  as  a 
bridegroom  decketh  himself  with  ornaments,  and  as  a  bride 
adorneth  herself  with  her  jewels." 

4. — The  hind  of  the  morning. — Psalm  xxii.  in  the  title. 

The  dying  patriarch  Jacob,  under  the  influences  of  the 
prophetic  spirit,  pointed  to  the  seed  of  Naphiali  as  a  hind  let 
loose.  But  it  is  the  church  which  points  to  Jesus  as  the  Hind 
of  the  morning  ;  for  he  is,  indeed,  the  loving  Hind,  and  the 
pleasant  Roe.  It  is  sweet  and  profitable  to  observe  in  what 
a  variety  of  methods  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  been  pleased  to 
give  sketches  of  Jesus.  My  soul,  look  at  Jesus  for  thy  pre- 
sent meditation  as  the  Hind  of  the  morning.  Was  he  not, 
from  the  very  morning  of  eternity,  marked  under  this  lovely 
character?  Did  not  the  church  speak  of  him,  and  desire  his 
appearance,  under  this  same  character,  when  she  begged  of 
him,  that,  until  the  shadows  of  Jewish  ordinances  were 
passed  away,  and  the  day  of  gospel  light  should  break  in 
upon  her,  that  her  beloved  would  be  like  a  young  hart  or  a 
roe,  upon  the  mountains  of  Bether  ?  And  was  not  Jesus,  in- 
deed, when  he  did  appear,  truly  as  the  hind,  which  the  dogs 
that  compassed  him  about,  and  the  assembly  of  the  wicked 
enclosed  ?  Did  he  not  say,  in  those  unequalled  moments  of 
suffering.  Save  me  from  the  lion's  mouth,  for  thou  hast  heard 
me  from  the  horns  of  the  unicorns  ?  Yes,  precious  Jesus  ! 
thou  art,  indeed, the  Hind  of  the  morning!  In  the  morning 
of  our  salvation,  thou  camest  over  the  hills  and  mountains  of 
our  sinful  nature,  with  the  swiftness  of  the  hind,  and  the  love- 
liness and  gentleness  of  the  roe,  to  expose  thyself  to  the  ser- 
pent, and  the  whole  host  of  foes,  for  the  deliverance  of  thy 
people.  And  having  trod  upon  the  lion  and  the  adder,  and 
the  young  lion,  and  the  dragon,  trampled  under  thy  feet ;  by 
thy  death  thou  didst  overcome  death,  and  him  that  had  the 
power  of  death,  that  is,  the  devil ;  and  hast  delivered  them, 
who,  through  fear  of  death,  were  all  their  life-time  subject  to 
bondage.  And  now,  precious  Lord  !  thou  art  as  the  hind 
slain,  the  food  of  the  souls  of  thy  redeemed  by  faith,  until 

11* 


m 

126  MORNING  PORTION. 

faith  itself  is  done  away  in  sight,  and  hope  swallowed  up  in 
absolute  fruition.  Oh !  let  the  language  of  my  heart  daily, 
hourly,  correspond  to  the  church  of  old ;  and,  during  the 
shadows  of  ordinances,  and  all  the  dark  clouds  of  unbelief 
and  temptations  with  which  I  am  here  exercised,  let  me  still 
by  faith,  behold  thee  as  the  Hind  of  the  morning,  fleeing 
swiftly  to  my  assistance,  hearing  and  answering  my  prayers, 
leaping  over  all  the  mountains  of  distance  which  sin  and  un- 
worthiness  would  throw  up  between  thee  and  my  soul,  oppos- 
ing all  my  enemies,  and  beating  them  under  my  feet  that 
would  keep  me  from  thee  ;  until  that  day,  that  glorious  ever- 
lasting day,  which  will  have  no  night,  shall  break  in  upon 
my  soul,  and  thou  wilt  then  appear,  to  my  unceasing,  unin- 
terrupted joy,  the  Hind  indeed,  of  the  morning.  Make  haste, 
my  Beloved  !  and  be  thou  like  unto  a  roe,  or  to  a  young  hart, 
upon  the  mountains  of  spices. 

5. — Believest  thou  not  that  I  am  in  the  Father,  and  the  Father  in  me  ? — 
John  xiv.  10. 

My  soul,  thou  wilt  never  sufficiently  contemplate  this 
blessed  oneness  between  the  Father  and  the  Son,  in  the  great 
work  and  glory  of  redemption.  Pause,  this  morning  and  ob- 
serve, for  the  confirmation  of  thy  faith,  that  as  Jesus  is  one 
with  the  Father  in  all  the  essence  and  attributes  of  the  God- 
head, so  God  the  Father  is  one  with  Jesus  in  all  the  offices 
of  redemption.  God  was  in  Christ's  human  nature,  for  he  is 
said  to  have  been  God  manifest  in  the  Jiesh.  God  was  in 
every  name  of  Christ,  every  work  of  Christ,  every  word  of 
Christ,  every  office  of  Christ,  every  attribute  of  Christ.  And 
hence,  in  seeing  Christ,  we  truly  see  God  ;  in  all  his  grace, 
mercy,  love,  salvation,  and  every  blessing  connected  with  our 
present,  future,  eternal  happiness.  And  what  a  sweet  thought 
is  that,  my  soul,  for  thee  to  dwell  upon  ;  that  as  the  Father  is 
in  Jesus,  and  in  him  dwelleth  all  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead 
bodily,  so,  in  consequence,  there  is  a  fulness  of  grace  and  a 
fulness  of  glory  in  Jesus,  to  give  out  a  supply  here  of  the  one, 
and  hereafter  of  the  other,  to  satisfy  the  most  capacious  de- 
sires of  the  souls  of  his  redeemed  to  all  eternity.  For  the 
human  nature  being  personally  united  to  the  Godhead  in  the 
person  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  there  must  be  this  fulness  everlast- 
ingly dwelling.  There  may  be,  and  for  certain  purposes 
sometimes  there  are,  great  gifts  and  graces  of  the  Spirit 
poured  out  upon  the  Lord's  servants  ;  but  never  could  the 


MAY.  127 

Godhead  be  found  in  any  but  Jesus.  God  was  in  Christ  re- 
conciling the  world  unto  himself.  Pause  once  more,  my  soul, 
and  ask  thyself,  Hast  thou  Christ?  then  hast  thou  God  the 
Father  in  him.  Where  Christ  is,  God  the  Father  is :  and 
where  Christ  is  not,  there  God  is  not.  See  then,  my  soul, 
that  this  is  the  standard  to  ascertain  the  reality  of  thy  case  as 
it  appears  before  God.  Hast  thou  Jesus  for  thy  portion  ?  then 
the  Father  is  in  him.  Dost  thou  love  Jesus  ?  then  must  thou 
love  the  Father  in  him.  Dost  thou  seek  Jesus  ?  then  art  thou 
seeking  the  Father  in  him.  Oh!  for  grace  to  discover  our 
true  interest  in  all  the  Father's  covenant  engagements  and 
promises,  from  this  very  source  ;  that  this  everlasting  oneness 
between  the  Father  and  Son  infallibly  secures  to  his  peo- 
ple all  the  blessings  of  redemption,  for  in  seeing  the  Son,  we 
literally  and  truly  see  the  Father,  and  glorify  the  Father  in 
Jesus.     Amen. 


6. — And  he  said,  I  am  Joseph,  your  brother,  whom  ye  sold  into  Egypt. 
Gen.  xlv.  4. 

What  an  interview  was  this  in  the  first  manifestation  the 
governor  of  Egypt  made  of  himself  to  his  brethren !  We 
are  told  that  he  wept  aloud.  His  bowels  yearned  over  them. 
He  had  long  smothered  in  his  own  bosom  those  tender  feel- 
ings he  possessed,  of  the  greatest  love  towards  them  ;  and 
when  he  had  dismissed  every  looker-on,  and  stranger,  he 
broke  out  in  those  kind  expressions,  I  am  Joseph,  your  bro- 
ther, whom  ye  sold  into  Egypt.  But  what  were  the  feelings 
of  the  patriarch,  compared  to  those  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  when 
he  made  himself  known  to  his  disciples  after  he  arose  from 
the  dead ;  and  as  he  now  manifests  himself  to  every  poor  sin- 
ner, whom,  by  his  grace,  he  makes  partaker  in  the  first  re- 
surrection, on  whom  the  second  death  hath  no  power"?  I  am 
Jesus,  your  Brother,  (saith  that  adored  Lord  ;)  but  he  doth 
not  add,  whom  ye  sold  for  worse  than  a  slave.  There  is  no 
upbraiding,  nothing  of  our  baseness  and  our  sins.  And  yet 
we  have  all  not  only  sold  him,  but,  by  our  transgressions,  cru- 
cified him.  What  a  beautiful  feature  this  is  in  the  Redeemer  ! 
and  how  much  even  the  love  of  Joseph  falls  short  of  Jesus ! 
And  what  endears  it  still  more,  is  the  peculiar  attention  the 
Redeemer  manifesteth  upon  the  occasion.  If  there  be  one 
of  his  brethren  more  distressed  and  discouraged  by  reason  of 
sin  than  another,  to  him  will  Jesus  direct  his  manifestation 
more  immediately.     Witness  the  case  of  Peter  after  his  fall. 


128  MORNING   PORTION. 

Jesus  will  have  the  account  of  his  resurrection  not  only  com- 
municated to  all,  but  Peter  is  mentioned  by  name.  Go  tell 
his  disciples,  and  Peter.  As  if  knowing  the  apostle  might 
fear  that,  having  denied  Jesus,  he  might  justly  be  denied  by 
him.  No,  saith  Jesus,  let  Peter  be  particularly  told  the  joj^fiil 
news,  to  make  his  heart  glad.  And  dost  thou,  dearest  Lord, 
speak  to  my  soul  ?  Dost  thou  say  to  me,  I  am  your  Brother  ^ 
Art  thou  not  ashamed  to  call  such  sinners  brethren?  Oh, 
thou  unequalled  pattern  of  unexampled  love !  add  one  mercy 
more  to  the  vast  account,  and  let  a  portion  of  it  kindle  a  flame 
of  love  in  my  soul.  I  have,  indeed,  sold  thee  for  a  slave, 
nailed  thee,  by  my  sins,  to  the  cross,  and  put  thee  to  an  open 
shame.  But  since  thou  hast  redeemed  me  by  thy  blood,  and 
bought  the  pardon  of  my  sins  so  dear,  and  now,  by  thy  tri- 
umph over  death,  art  become  the  first-born  among  many  bre- 
thren, and  exalted  as  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour  to  give  bles- 
sings infinitely  superior  to  those  Joseph  was  exalted  to  bestow 
on  his  brethren  ;  behold,  Lord,  to  thee  do  I  come,  manifest 
thyself  still  the  forgiving  Brother,  and  supply  all  my  wants. 
Yes,  blessed  Jesus !  thou  art  he  whom  thy  brethren  shall 
praise  ;  and  all  thy  Father's  children  shall  fall  down  before 
thee. 

7. — They  shall  revive  as  the  com. — Hosea  xiv.  7 

Sweet  promise  to  comfort  a  soul  like  mine,  under  so  man3^ 
and  such  frequent  languishing  graces  f  How  often  hath  it 
appeared  to  my  view  as  if  the  gracious  seed  had  perished  ? 
It  was  small,  indeed,  in  its  first  beginning,  like  the  grain  of 
mustard-seed  ;  and  no  sooner  had  it  appeared,  than  I  per- 
ceived it  almost  choked  with  thetares  of  corruption,  unbelief, 
and  Satan's  rubbish.  I  was  soon  led  to  suspect  God's  work 
upon  my  soul.  Surely,  I  said,  this  is  not  grace.  Presently 
I  could  see  no  more  of  it.  I  was  ignorant  that  by  thus  dying 
to  self  the  Holy  Ghost  was  opening  to  my  view  the  only  living 
in  Jesus.  In  a  moment  unlooked  for  it  revived  as  the  corn. 
Ah!  from  whence  the  source?  Not  from  self,  not  from 
labours,  not  from  exertions :  can  dead  roots  live  ?  The  Holy 
Ghost  taught  me  this  must  be  Jesus.  Your  life,  he  said,  is 
hid  with  Christ  in  God.  Here  are  the  springs  of  grace  ; 
here,  from  hence,  flow  the  streams  of  that  river  which  make 
glad  the  city  of  God.  Here,  then,  is  faith's  view  of  God's 
glory  in  Christ.  Here  is  the  promise.  They  shall  revive 
as  the  corn.     And  thus  it  is  fulfilled.     In  me,  (saith  that 


MAY.  129 

precious  Redeemer)  is  thy  fruit  found.  Mark  this  down, 
my  soul.  Both  root  and  fruit  are  in  one  and  the  same,  even 
Jesus.  Spiritual  attainments  are  in  Jesus,  not  in  the  greenest 
buddings  or  fairest  blossoms  of  our  own  labours.  Live  then, 
my  soul,  wholly  upon  Jesus,  and  then  thou  wilt  revive  as  the 
corn.  Suppose  it  trodden  down,  suppose  the  tares  of  the 
wicked  rise  to  oppose  it,  yet  if  Jesus  be  the  root,  and  the 
springs  of  grace  in  him  flow,  as  they  cannot  but  flow,  to  keep 
alive  all  the  branches  in  him,  there  shall  be,  there  must  be,  at 
last,  a  glorious  harvest.  Oh !  what  a  volume  doth  the  soul 
sometimes  read  at  once  in  that  short  promise,  "  Because  I 
live,  ye  shall  live  also.^^  Hail !  hail  thou  glorious  root  out  of 
a  dry  ground!  Thou  wilt  send  forth  the  golden  ears  for 
thine  own  garner.  Thou  wilt  weed  out  every  thing  that 
annoys.  Thou  wilt  water,  and  by  the  sweet  influences  of  thy 
blood,  thy  word,  and  spirit,  thou  wilt  shine  upon  the  standing 
corn.  And  when,  by  all  thy  gracious  husbandry,  (for  the 
whole  work  and  glory  is  thine,)  thou  hast  caused  the  plentiful 
crop* to  hang  down  their  heads  in  all  the  humbleness  of  self- 
abasement,  as  the  token  of  ripeness,  thou  wilt  command  thine 
angel  to  put  in  the  sickle  of  death,  and  take  home  every  stalk 
and  every  grain  of  the  precious  seed  to  thy  garner  in  heaven. 

8. — Jesus  said  unto  her,  I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  Ufe  :  he  that  be- 
Ueveth  in  me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live.  And  whoso- 
ever liveth,  and  believeth  in  me,  shall  never  die.  Believest  thou 
this  ? — John  xi.  25,  26. 

Pause,  my  soul,  over  those  divine,  those  glorious,  those 
soul-quickening,  soul-reviving  words  of  thy  Almighty  Re- 
deemer !  What  man,  what  prophet,  what  servant  of  the 
Lord,  what  angel,  but  He  that  is  the  Angel  of  the  Covenant, 
One  with  the  Father  over  all,  God  blessed  for  ever,  could  as- 
sume such  a  language,  and  prove  that  assumption,  as  Jesus 
did.  both  by  his  own  resurrection,  and  that  of  Lazarus'? 
And  mark,  'my  soul,  the  many  precious  things  contained  in 
this  sweet  scripture.  Observe  the  blessing  itself,  even  resur- 
rection and  life.  Observe  the  source,  the  author,  the  fountain 
of  it,  Jesus,  thy  Jesus.  Observe  for  whom  this  stupendous 
mercy  is  designed,  and  to  whom  conveyed,  namely,  the  dead 
in  trespasses  and  sins,  and  for  the  dying,  languishing  frames 
of  believers.  And  lastly,  observe  "'how  absolute  the  thing 
itself  is  ;  they  shall  live.  Oh,  precious  words  of  a  most  pre- 
cious Saviour.  And  may  I  not  say  to  thee,  my  soul,  as  Jesus 
did  to  Mary,  after  proclaiming  himself  under  this  glorious 


130  MORNING    PORTION. 

distinction  of  character,  "  Believest  thou  this  ?"  Canst  thou 
answer  as  she  did,  "  Yea,  Lord,  I  believe  that  thou  art  the 
Christ,  the  Son  of  C4od,  which  should  come  into  the  world?" 
This  is  a  blessed  confession  to  witness  before  God.  For  if  I 
believe  that  Jesus  be  indeed  the  Christ  of  God,  every  other 
difficulty  is  removed  to  the  firm  belief  that,  as  the  Father 
hath  life  in  himself,  even  so  hath  the  Son  life  in  himself,  and 
whom  he  will  he  quickeneth.  Witness  then  for  me,  every 
looker  on,  angels  and  men,  that  my  soul  heartily,  cordially, 
fully  subscribes  to  the  same  precious  truth,  and  in  the  same 
language  as  Mary.  Yea^  Lord^  I  would  say  to  every  word 
of  thine  concerning  thy  sovereignty,  grace,  and  love  :  as  thou 
hast  said  it,  so  I  accept  it :  in  the  very  words  of  thine  I  take 
it,  and  cry  out.  Yea,  Lord,  even  so  be  it  unto  me  according  to 
thy  word.  And  now,  my  soul,  under  all  remaining  seasons 
of  deadness,  coldness,  backslidings,  wanderings,  and  the  like, 
never  henceforth  forget  from  whom  all  revivals  can  only 
come.  Never  look  within  for  them  ;  for  there  is  no  power 
of  resurrection  in  thyself  Can  these  dry  bones  live?  Ves, 
if  Jesus  quickens  !  And  is  Jesus  less  to  quicken  thee  than 
thy  connexion  with  Adam  to  have  killed  thee  ?  Oh !  how 
plain  is  it  that  the  very  wants  of  the  soul  correspond  to  the 
very  fulness  of  Jesus  to  answer  them.  And  therefore,  when 
the  Lord  Jesus  saith,  1  am  the  Resurrection  and  the  Life,  he 
comes  to  seek  employment  in  this  glorious  character,  to 
quicken  the  dead  and  revive  the  living.  Oh,  Lord  !  give  me 
to  hear  thy  blessed  voice  this  day,  and  my  soul  shall  live,  and 
live  to  praise  thee. 

9. — A  certain  Samaritan  — Luke  x.  33. 

Look,  my  soul,  beyond  the  letter  of  the  parable,  and  see  if 
thou  canst  not  instantly  discover  who  it  is  that  is  here  meant. 
Mark  how  he  is  described  :  "A  certain  Samaritan."  Not  any 
indifferent  undetermined  one  among  the  whole  mass  of  men 
called  Samaritans ;  but  an  identical  certain  one :  and  who 
but  Jesus  answers  to  this  character  1  Said  we  not  well,  (said 
the  Jews,)  that  thou  art  a  Sam.aritan  ?  Yes,  truly,  thus  far 
ye  said  right ;  for  our  Jesus  is  the  true  Samaritan  that  came 
a  blissful  stranger,  from  his  blessed  abode,  to  deliver  us  from 
our  lost  estate  ;  for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever.  And,  my 
soul,  observe  how  exactly  corresponding  to  all  that  is  said  of 
this  certain  Samaritan  in  the  parable  thy  Jesus  proves  to 
have  been.     Our  nature,  universally  speaking,  was  going 


MAY.  131 

down  from  Jerusalem  to  Jericho,  when  it  fell  amongr  thieves, 
and  when  it  was  left  more  than  half  dead  by  the  great  enemy 
of  souls;  for  we  had  all  miserably  departed  from  the  Lord, 
when  Jesus  came  from  heaven  to  the  Jericho  of  this  world, 
to  seek  and  save  that  which  was  lost.  And  what  could  the 
Priest  or  Levite  do  by  law  or  sacrifice  to  help  our  ruined 
nature?  But  when  Jesus  came  and  bound  up  the  wounds 
which  sin  and  Satan  had  made,  by  pouring  in  the  balsam  of 
his  own  precious  blood,  then  he  proved  himself  to  be  this 
certain  Samaritan  ;  for  none  but  Jesus  could  have  done  this, 
since  there  is  salvation  in  no  other,  neiiher  is  there  any  other 
name  under  heaven  given  among  men  whereby  we  must  be 
saved.  And  what  is  it  now,  but  the  same  gracious  mercy 
carrying  on  the  same  blessed  purpose  in  completing  the  per 
feet  recovery  of  our  nature?  It  is  Jesus,  Samaritan-like, 
which  hath  brought  us  to  the  inn  of  his  church,  hath  ap 
pointed  his  servants  and  angels,  who  are  ministering  spirits, 
to  minister  in  all  divine  things  to  the  heirs  of  salvation.  He 
hath  commissioned  the  whole  train  of  ordinances,  and  provi- 
dences, and  promises,  to  minister  to  our  good.  His  holy 
word,  his  holy  Spirit,  are  unceasingly  engaged  to  the  same 
blessed  end.  And  what  crowns  all,  and  makes  our  state  and 
circumstances  most  safe  and  blessed  indeed,  is,  that  Jesus 
hath  commanded  all  the  remaining  costs  and  expenses  of  our 
cure  to  be  put  down  to  his  account.  He  saith  himself  to  me, 
a  poor  worthless  sinner  as  I  am,  and  to  every  individual  of 
his  redeemed,  Whatsoever  thou  spendest  more,  when  I  come 
again,  I  will  repay.  And  is  it  so,  my  soul?  Is  not  the 
blessing  too  great  to  be  bestowed,  and  thou  too  worthless  to 
receive  it?  Oh,  nol  For  it  is  Jesus  who  promiseth.  That's 
enough.  Hail  then,  thou  certain  Samaritan,  thou  Almighty 
Traveller  through  our  miserable  world !  Since  the  first  day 
that  thou  didst  pass  by,  and  didst  behold  me  in  my  blood 
cast  out  to  perish,  and  didst  bid  me  live,  how  hath  my  soul 
hailed  thee,  and  now  and  unceasingly  will  hail  thee,  as  my 
life,  my  hope,  my  joy,  my  portion  for  ever  ! 

10. — By  the  highway  side,  begging, — Mark  x.  46. 

My  soul,  learn  a  lesson  from  the  beggar  this  morning-. 
And  oh,  thou  blessed  Friend  of  beggars !  do  thou  sweetly 
make  the  view  gracious  to  my  soul.  What  was  it  led  this 
poor  man  to  the  highway  side  to  seek  alms  ?  Surely  his 
poverty,  wretchedness,  and  a  sense  of  want.     And  art  thou 


t32  MORNING    PORTION. 

come  forth,  my  soul,  from  the  same  cause  and  on  the  same 
errand  ?  I  presume  this  creature  came  forth  empty  ;  for  had 
he  been  full  he  would  never  have  come.  And  art  thou  so, 
my  soul?  for  otherwise  it  is  certain  they  that  are  full  in 
themselves  never  seek  Jesus.  But  amidst  his  want  and  po- 
verty, had  this  poor  beggar  hopes  that  the  passers-by  would 
commisserate  his  case  and  relieve  him?  Yes,  no  doubt! 
though  some  might  overlook  and  disregard  him,  all  would 
not.  But,  my  soul,  thy  case  far  exceeds  his.  Though  all 
disregard,  Jesus  will  not:  and  thou  art  sure  he  will  pass  by, 
and  not  only  behold  thy  misery,  but  give  thee  needed  relief. 
Jesus,  Master,  have  mercy  upon  me  !  Behold,  I  am  come  out 
this  morning  as  poor,  as  wretched,  as  empty,  and  as  needy, 
as  though  I  never  before  had  heard  of  thy  dear  name,  or 
been  living  upon  thy  fulness.  But  thou  knowest  that  I  can- 
not live  upon  the  alms  of  yesterday,  no  more  than  my  body 
can  keep  in  health  from  the  food  received  in  the  many  days 
that  are  past,  w^ithout  a  new  supply.  Lord,  I  know  that  I  am 
thine,  and  that  thou  art  mine.  I  therefore  come  to  thee  for  a 
suited  supply,  and  surely,  thou  wilt  not  send  me  empty  away. 
Indeed,  Lord,  I  rejoice  that  I  feel  my  poverty ;  for  I  am 
thereby,  as  an  empty  vessel,  better  suited  for  receiving  of  thy 
fulness.  Give  in,  blessed  Jesus,  to  my  poor  hungry  soul,  and 
then  I  shall  find  cause  to  rejoice  that  my  emptiness  and  beg- 
gary constrained  me  to  seek  thee ;  and  that  my  need  afforded 
an  opportunity  for  the  display  of  thy  grace.  Yes,  yes, 
blessed  Lord  !  I  am  not  only  content  to  be  poor  and  to  be 
needy,  but  to  be  nothing,  to  be  worse  than  nothing,  so  that 
thereby  my  blessed  Jesus  gets  glory  in  the  manifestation  of 
his  love  and  giving  out  of  his  riches.  I  will  glory  even  in 
my  infirmities,  that  the  power  of  Christ  may  rest  upon  me. 
A  beggar  still  I  wish  to  be,  and  to  lay  at  thy  gate,  if  but  to 
glimpse  at  thy  face,  and  to  receive  one  token  from  thy  fair 
hand.  Indeed,  indeed,  then  am  I  most  full,  when  most  empty, 
to  be  filled  with  Jesus. 


11. — Let  him  alone,  and  let  him  curse  ;  for  the  Lord  hath  bidden  him. 
It  may  be  that  the  Lord  will  look  on  mine  affliction,  and  that  the 
Lord  will  requite  me  good  for  his  cursing  this  day. — 2  Sam.  xvi.  11, 12. 

My  soul,  see  here  a  believer  in  his  best  frame.  To  be 
sure,  it  is  not  always  thus  with  a  child  of  God ;  but  it  were 
to  be  devoutly  desired  always  thus  to  be.  But  while  we  ad- 
mire the  faith,  let  us  yet  more  admire  and  adore  Him,  and 


MAY.  133 

his  grace  and  mercy,  who  gives  it.  Oh !  what  a  blessed  state 
it  is  to  eye  the  hand  of  the  Lord  in  every  thing.  When 
Shimei  thus  cursed  David,  he  passeth  by  the  instrument,  and 
recognizeth  the  hand  of  the  Lord  in  the  appointment.  Let 
him  alone,  for  the  Lord  hath  bidden  him.  Sin  is  at  the  bot- 
tom. The  Lord  doth  not  correct  for  nought.  How  unjust 
soever  on  the  part  of  man,  it  is  both  just  and  right  on  the 
part  of  God.  And  observe,  moreover,  the  comfort  he  takes 
to  himself  out  of  it.  If  my  God  bid  my  enemy  distress  me, 
is  it  not  that  my  Almighty  Friend  may  more  sweetly  comfort 
me  ?  There  is  not  only  a  may  be^  but  a  certainty  there  shall 
he,  in  God's  requiting  evil  with  good  to  his  people.  My  soul, 
never  overlook  this  in  any,  and  in  all  of  thine  exercises.  Be- 
hold his  hand  in  it,  be  it  what  it  may,  and  then  thou  wilt 
never  faint  under  any  burden.  Jesus  not  only  looks  on,  but 
he  it  is  that  permits  and  appoints.  Oh !  he  is  tender  even  in 
rebukes.  By  those  means  he  makes  his  children  more  like 
himself;  and,  moreover,  it  is  his  gracious  plan  to  extract 
pleasure  from  pain,  and  by  impoverishing  the  soul  in  self, 
and  in  creature-love,  to  turn  curses  into  blessings,  and  convert 
loss  into  gain.  Doth  the  enemy  curse  you  ?  Doth  he  come 
out  against  you?  Oh!  then,  depend  upon  it,  Jesus  is  going 
to  confer  some  special  blessing  upon  you.  Thou  art  to  be 
advanced  to  great  honour,  to  be  made  more  conformable  to 
his  blessed  image.  Jesus  is  hereby  giving  you  not  only  to 
believe  in  him,  but  to  suffer  for  his  sake.  Precious  Lord ! 
grant  me  then  this  grace  which  thy  servant  David  was  en- 
abled to  exercise ;  and  when  the  Shimeis  of  the  day  come 
forth  to  curse,  let  them  curse,  so  thou  do  but  bless.  And  oh  for 
sweet  influences  from  thee,  dearest  Lord  !  that  I  may  know 
thee  and  the  power  of  thy  resurrection,  and  the  fellowship  of 
thy  sufferings,  being  made  conformable  unto  thy  death. 

12. — Then  said  he  to  Thomas,  Reach  hither  thy  finger,  and  behold  my 
hands  ;  and  reach  hither  thy  liand,  and  thrust  it  into  my  side  ;  and 
be  not  faithless,  but  believing. — John  xx.  27. 

Was  Jesus  willing  to  have  his  wounds  searched,  rather 
than  his  unbelieving  disciple  should  go  unconvinced?  Look, 
then,  my  soul,  at  Jesus,  and  he  will  grant  thee  a  suitable  tes- 
timony, to  hush  all  thy  remaining  doubts,  if  so  be,  after  such 
manifestations  of  grace  as  he  hath  shown  thee,  there  be  a 
single  doubt  left  behind.  Doth  not  Jesus,  in  effect,  say,  in 
every  renewed  ordinance,  Reach  hither  thy  finger,  thrust  in 

12 


134  MORNING   PORTION. 

thine  hand,  and  the  precious  blood  thou  needest  shall  flow  ; 
for  the  fountain  for  sin,  for  uncleanness,  for  unbelief,  and,  in 
short,  for  every  necessity  of  my  people,  is  still  open.  Is  not 
this  the  language  of  all  ?  Doth  unbelief  doubt  the  reality  of 
the  thing  itself,  like  Thomas  ?  Doth  unbelief  tempt  the  soul 
to  doubt  the  particular  efficacy  of  it  to  special  cases,  such  as 
a  man's  own?  Doth  unbelief  suggest  the  circumstances 
hopeless  from  delay,  from  past  neglect,  from  present  unwor- 
thiness?  In  answer  to  all  Jesus  speaks,  "  Reach  hither  thy 
finger ;  and  if  a  touch  will  not  satisfy  thee,  thrust  thy  hand 
deeply  into  my  side ;"  here  is  enough  to  silence  all  fears ; 
why  are  those  wounds  still  open  1  "  Wherefore  did  I  appear 
to  my  servant  John  as  a  lamb  that  had  been  slain,  but  to 
convince,  by  so  palpable  a  testimony,  that  I  am  the  same 
yesterday,  to  day,  and  for  ever."  Oh  for  grace  to  return 
the  grateful  answer  to  Jesus,  My  Lord,  and  my  God !  My 
soul,  now  thou  art  commanded,  this  do.  Put  forth  thine 
hand,  and  leave  every  other  consequence  with  Jesus.  While 
Jesus  thus  gives  himself  to  thee,  my  soul,  do  thou  make  a 
complete  surrender  of  thyself  to  him  ;  for  this  is  the  very 
exercise  of  faith  that  Jesus  is  come  after,  and  therefore  let 
him  not  go  away  until  he  hath  taken  thine  whole  affections 
with  him,  as  thy  Lord  and  thy  God. 

13. — And  one  man  among  them  was  clothed  with  linen,  and  a  writer's 
inkhorn  by  his  side. — Ezek.  ix.  2. 

Pause,  my  soul,  over  this  scripture.  Who  could  this  one 
man  be,  but  Jesus,  thy  Mediator!  Did  not  his  garment  of 
linen  mark  his  righteousness,  and  the  inkhorn  to  write  down 
his  people,  his  pierced  side?  Hath  he  not  written  in  the 
book  of  life  the  names  of  all  his  redeemed,  that  none  of  them 
may  be  lost  when  he  cometh  to  make  up  his  jewels  ?  And 
was  it  not  whh  an  eye  to  this  the  soldier  pierced  his  side, 
when  by  his  death  he  had  obtained  eternal  redemption  for 
them,  that  he  might  with  his  precious  blood  mark  his  people, 
as  a  shepherd  doth  his  sheep  ?  Yes,  thou  dear  Redeemer  ! 
surely  I  behold  thee  sweetly  set  forth  in  this  Scripture. 
Surely  the  Holy  Ghost,  who  all  along  delighted  to  set  thee 
forth  under  various  similitudes  before  the  old  church,  hath 
graciously  represented  thee  here.  Methinks  I  behold  thee 
now  coming  forth  in  the  white  garment  of  thy  spotless 
righteousness,  with  thy  pierced  side,  to  mark  all  thine,  before 
the  destroying  angels"  go  forth  to  the  everlasting  destruction 


MAY.  135 

of  unawakenea,  unregenerated  sinners  !  Methinks  I  hear 
thy  blessed,  gracious,  compassionate  voice,  in  the  same  tender 
tone  of  words  as  thou  once  didst  utter  to  thy  servant  John: 
Him  that  overcometh  tcill  I  make  a  pillar  in  the  temple  of  my 
God^  and  he  shall  go  no  more  out.  And  I  will  write  upon  him 
tJie  name  of  my  God,  and  the  name  of  the  city  of  my  God : 
and  I  loill  write  upo7i  him  my  new  name.  Oh,  Lamb  of  God  ! 
fulfil  these  blessed  promises  in  my  soul !  Mark  me  as  thine, 
unto  the  day  of  redemption.  Seal  me  as  a  signet  in  thine 
image,  and  give  me  that  new  name  which  no  man  knoweth 
saving  he  that  receiveth  it.  Then,  amidst  burning  worlds, 
my  soul  will  stand  secure,  being  justified  in  thy  righteous- 
ness, and  sprinkled  with  thy  blood  ;  and  I  shall  hear,  with 
holy  joy,  that  glorious,  but  awful  voice,  Come  not  near  any 
man  upon  v:hom  is  the  mark. 

14. — If  we  live  in  the  Spirit,  let  us  also  walk  in  the  Spirit. — Gal.  v.  25. 

My  soul,  take  this  sweet  scripture  for  thy  motto,  not  only 
this  day,  but  every  day  ;  for  every  day's  walk  should  be  the 
same,  with  Jesus  "by  the  Spirit.  And  surely,  my  soul,  if  Je- 
sus really,  truly  dwells  in  thee,  he  will  manifest  that  he  is 
at  home,  by  ruling  in  thee.  It  is  blessed,  and  gracious,  and 
edifying,  when  out  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart  the 
mouth  speaketh,  and  like  the  spouse,  the  lips  drop  as  the 
honey-comb,  sweetly  of  Jesus.  But  the  life  of  Jesus  in  the 
soul  consisteth  not  in  talking  only  of  Jesus,  but  walking  in 
him,  and  walking  with  him.  But,  my  soul,  how  wilt  thou 
accomplish  these  things,  carrying  about  with  thee,  as  thou 
dost  daily,  a  body  of  sin  and  death?  There  is  but  one  plan, 
and  that  a  simple  plan,  mortifying,  indeed,  to  the  pride  of 
human  nature,  but  giving  glory  to  Jesus !  Art  thou  truly 
content  to  be  mortified,  so  that  Jesus  be  glorified  ?  If  so,  this 
is  the  only  way  the  apostle  hath  marked.  They,  and  they 
only,  that  live  in  the  Spirit,  will  walk  in  the  Spirit.  The 
same  grace  which  teacheth  thee  of  Jesus,  must  give  to  thee 
power  in  Jesus.  As  long  as  Jesus  is  in  view,  looked  to,  and 
lived  upon,  all  the  blessed  effects  of  the  grace  from  Jesus 
will  follow,  as  sure  as  the  rays  of  light  diffuse  their  bright- 
ness when  the  sun  is  risen.  If,  my  soul,  thou  goest  forth  in 
a  firm  dependance  upon  Jesus'  strength,  that  strength  will 
be  assuredly  perfected  in  thy  weakness ;  but  if  Jesus  be  lost 
sight  ofj  and  a  fancied  strength  in  thyself  supply  the  place, 
this  defect  in  faith  will  bring  forth  a  defect  in  practice.     My 


136  MORNING   PORTION. 

soul,  learn  to  exercise  an  holy  jealousy  over  thyself ;  for  after 
Jesus  is  once  truly  known,  all  thy  danger  begins  at  this 
place  :  so  that  the  great  secret  is,  to  live  out  of  self,  upon 
his  falness  ;  to  do  nothing  but  in  his  strength  ;  to  propose 
nothing  but  for  his  glory;  and  in  every  step  you  take,  in  the 
whole  walk  of  life,  to  make  Jesus  every  thing,  and  depend 
upon  him  in  every  thing  ;  and  this  is  the  way  to  find  both 
security  and  comfort.  Dear  Lord  !  do  thou  enable  a  poor 
worm  thus  to  live,  by  living  in  thee ;  and  then,  sure  I  am,  I 
shall  be  happy,  by  walking  in  thee. 

15. — Thou  shalt  also  be  a  crown  of  glory  in  the  hand  of  the  Lord,  and 
a  royal  diadem  in  the  hand  of  thy  God. — Isaiah  Ixii.  3. 

It  is  very  easy  to  conceive  how  the  Lord  of  hosts  in  the 
day  of  salvation  becomes  for  a  crown  of  glory  and  for  a  dia- 
dem of  beauty  unto  his  people,  as  the  prophet  hath  said, 
Isaiah  xxviii.  5.  But  that  the  church,  and  every  individual 
redeemed  of  the  church  shall  be  the  Lord's  crown  and  dia- 
dem ;  oh  the  wonders  of  grace  !  Pause,  my  soul,  over  this 
sweet  scripture,  and  take  to  thyself  the  blessedness  of  it. 
What  a  variety  of  images  and  similitudes  thy  God  hath  made 
use  of,  to  manifest  how  highly  he  prizeth  his  redeemed  ! 
"  Yea,  he  loved  the  people,  (said  one  of  old,)  and  his  saints 
are  in  thy  hand."  He  calleth  them  jewels,  precious  stones, 
his  treasure,  his  chosen,  his  inheritance,  his  portion,  his 
crown,  his  diadem  !  And  what  a  thought  it  is  for  thee, 
my  soul,  to  meditate  upon,  that  though  in  thyself  thou  art  no- 
thing, yet,  considered  in  Jesus,  thou  art  all  this  and  more  ; 
polished,  made  comely,  and  glorious,  from  the  comeliness 
put  upon  thee,  and  the  glory  of  Jesus.  See  then,  my  soul, 
the  vast  mercy  in  Jesus !  A  worthless  worm  made  dear  to  God ! 
How  infinitely  precious  and  dear  should  God  in  Christ  be  to 
thee!  Let  this  encourage  thee,  then,  at  all  times  to  come  to  him. 
Thou  art  giving  glory  to  thy  God,  when  thou  coraest  to  him. 
to  give  out  of  his  fulness  to  thee.  Jesus  wanteth  needy  crea- 
tures to  be  glorified  upon,  by  giving  out  of  his  abundance 
to  their  necessities  ;  and  the  more  he  gives,  the  more  he 
is  glorified.  Mark  that  also,  for  thy  greater  encourage- 
ment to  come  to  him.  The  more  thou  art  blessed  in  his  ful- 
ness, the  more  blessed  he  is  in  imparting  it ;  so  that  while 
thou  art  his  crown  of  glory,  he  is  glorified  in  thy  redemption. 
And  while  thou  crownest  Jesus'  head,  in  ascribing  all  the 
glory   of  thy  salvation  unto  him,  he  condescends  to  make 


MAY.  137 

thee  a  crown  of  glory  in  his  hand,  as  a  token  that  thou  art 
his,  both  by  purchase  of  his  blood,  the  gift  of  his  Father,  and 
the  conquest  of  his  grace.      Hallelujah  ! 

16. — And  he  that  had  been  possessed  with  the  devil,  prayed  him  that  he 
might  be  with  him.  Howbeit,  Jesus  suffered  him  not,  but  saith  unto 
him,  Go  home  to  thy  friends,  and  tell  them  how  great  things  the 
Lord  hath  done  for  thee. — Mark  v.  18,  19. 

Mark  this,  my  soul,  and  especially  when  at  any  time  thy 
Jesus  is  so  graciously  revealing  himself  to  thee,  in  a  way 
of  love  that  thou  art  longing  to  be  absent  from  the  body, 
that  thou  mayest  be  present  Vv-ith  the  Lord  ;  think,  then,  of  what 
Jesus  said  to  this  poor  man.  The  thought  of  being  made  instru- 
mental in  ihe  hand  of  the  Lord  in  calling  sinners  to  Jesus, 
made  holy  Paul  willing  to  wait  in  a  sinful  world,  and  put  off 
his  own  happiness.  Precious  frame  of  mind  !  Paul  knew 
also,  that  if  the  Lord  housed  his  children  from  the  lions'  dens 
and  from  the  mountains  of  leopards,  as  soon  as  he  had 
brought  them  to  the  knowledge  of  himself,  then,  in  this 
case,  Jesus  would  have  no  church  in  the  wilderness.  The 
holy  seed  would  not  be  found  amidst  the  tares  of  the 
earth.  Blessed  Lord !  give  grace  to  every  exercised  child 
of  thine  to  think  of  this  ;  that  when,  under  the  various  trials 
with  which  thy  wisdom  and  love  seeth  fit  to  try  their 
graces,  they  long  to  be  home  with  thee,  and  are  sending 
forth  the  cry  of  the  soul  for  dismission,  they  may  hear  thy 
voice  speaking  as  to  this  poor  man,  "  Go  home  to  thy 
friends,  and  tell  them  how  great  things  the  Lord  hath  done 
for  thee."  But  pause,  my  soul !  Is  this  thy  case?  Hath 
Jesus  done  great  things  for  thee,  and  art  thou  proclaiming  it 
abroad  to  call  others  to  partake?  Suppose  one  from  the 
throng  was  to  ask  thee.  What  is  thy  Belcfved  more  than 
another  beloved?  What  would  be  thy  answer?  Wouldest 
thou  say,  how  he  hath  blest  thee  in  health,  or  wealth,  or 
worldly  success,  or  prosperity  ;  in  friends,  and  relations,  and 
the  like?  And  are  these  all  the  things  or  the  chief  of 
them  that  thou  couldest  speak  of?  If  so,  what  are  these 
more  than  carnal  men  can,  and  do  speak  of?  The  infidel,  the 
Turk,  the  Pagan,  can  boast  as  much  !  But  if  thou  canst  say, 
"  Oh,  come  hither  and  barken,  all  ye  that  fear  God,  and  I  will 
tell  you  what  he  hath  done  for  my  soul !  I  was  once  darkness, 
and  am  now  light  in  the  Lord  !  I  was  once  in  Satan's  chains, 
and  Jesus  hath  set  me  free  !     I  was  once  like  this  poor  man, 

12* 


138  MORNING   PORTION. 

under  the  possession  of  sin  and  Satan  ;  but  now  I  sit  down 

at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  to  hear  the  gracious  words  which 
proceed  out  of  his  mouth  !"  Here,  my  sou],  this  is  indeed  to 
tell  thy  friends  how  great  things  the  Lord  hath  done  for  thee. 
Oh  for  grace  thus  to  proclaim  his  adorable  name  while 
on  earth,  until  Jesus  comes  to  take  me  home  to  himself,  there 
to  sound  his  praise  before  the  whole  redeemed  church  of  God 
for  ever ! 

17. — I  am  poor  and  needy,  yet  the  Lord  thinketh  upon  me. — Psalm  xl.  17 

Precious  consideration,  my  soul,  under  all  thine  exercises, 
the  Lord,  thy  Lord,  thy  Jesus,  thinketh  upon  thee.  Where- 
fore should  I  faint,  then,  under  any  burden  ?  Surely  I 
may  say,  as  Hagar  did  at  the  well.  Thou,  God,  seest  me  ! 
Surely  I  may  give  my  God,  my  Saviour,  this  name  as  she  did  ; 
for  she  said,  "  Have  I  also  here  looked  after  him  that  seeth 
me  ?"  Yes,  however  unconscious  my  poor  heart  is  of 
the  blessed  truth,  yet  a  very  blessed  truth  it  is ;  while  I 
am  looking  after  Jesus,  he  is  before-hand,  thinking  and 
looking  upon  me.  Precious  Lamb  of  God !  I  will  re- 
member my  poverty  no  more  :  that  is,  I  will  remember  it  no 
more,  but  as  it  is  made  the  means  in  thy  hand  to  make  me  sen- 
sible of  my  need  and  thy  fulness.  Art  thou  thinking  upon 
me  %  Do  I  hear  thy  gracious  voice  saying  to  me,  "  I 
know  the  thoughts  that  I  think  towards  you,  saith  the 
Lord,  thoughts  of  peace,  and  not  of  evil,  to  give  you  an 
expected  end !  Oh !  then,  herein  I  will  rejoice.  Poor 
and  needy  as  I  am,  let  me  be  more  poor,  more  needy, 
so  but  I  see  my  fulness  in  Jesus.  He  is  thinking  of  me, 
providing  for  me,  blessing  me.  I  would  not  be  full  for  the 
world,  or  fancy  myself  so  ;  for  what  room  should  I  then  have 
for  Jesus  ?  What  it  will  be  in  heaven,  I  know  not ;  in  the 
fulness  of  happiness  that  is  there,  though  that  fulness  can  only 
be  in  and  from  Jesus.  But  here  below,  a  full  state,  or  a  sup- 
posed full  state,  would  be  an  empty  wretched  state.  No,  let 
me  be  poor  and  needy,  empty  and  in  want,  wretched  and 
helpless,  in  myself;  for  then  I  am  sure  my  Jesus  will  be 
most  precious.  Mark  it  down  then,  my  soul,  this  day,  and 
wear  it  about  thine  heart  as  a  pleasing  consideration — When 
thou  feelest  thy  need  and  poverty  most,  the  Lord  thy  Jesus 
thinketh  upon  thee. 


MAY.  189 

18.— The  flower  of  the  field.— Psalm  ciii.  15. 

Do  I  not  behold  Jesus  here  pre-eminently  set  forth  above 
his  fellows  ?  Yes,  dear  Lord !  thy  people,  planted  by  thy 
hand,  do  indeed  flourish  as  a  flower  of  the  field  :  but  never 
any  like  thee.  Indeed,  all  their  loveliness,  fragrancy,  value, 
all  are  only  so  as  derived  from  thee.  Never  did  God  our 
Father  plant  so  lovely  a  flower,  so  sweet,  so  fragrant  a  flower, 
in  the  field  of  his  garden,  in  the  heavenly  Paradise,  or  the 
earthly  Eden,  as  when  he  planted  thee.  Sweet  Plant  of  Re- 
nown !  aid  my  meditations  this  morning  to  contemplate  thee 
under  this  interesting  view,  as  the  Flower  of  the  field.  And 
first,  let  me  behold  thee  as  truly  the  Flow^er  of  the  field,  be- 
cause thou  art  altogether  of  God's  right  hand  planting,  and 
not  of  man's.  The  flower  of  the  field  hath  no  father  but 
God,  and  no  mother  but  the  virgin  earth.  Precious  Jesus ! 
thou  wert  conceived  in  thy  human  nature  wholly  by  the  over- 
shadowing of  God  the  Spirit,  when  thou  condescendest,  for  our 
salvation,  to  be  born  of  the  virgin's  womb.  And  let  me  look 
at  thee,  oh  Lord,  under  another  beautiful  illustration  of  thy 
nature,  as  the  Flower  of  the  field,  when  I  consider  the  hum- 
bleness and  lowliness  in  which  thou  didst  appear.  Was 
there  ever  a  sweet  flower  of  the  field  more  hid,  more  ob- 
scured, and,  when  brought  forward  to  view,  less  regarded, 
than  Jesus,  of  whom  it  was  truly  said,  "  He  was  despised 
and  rejected  of  men  :  without  form  or  comeliness,  and  having 
no  beauty  that  we  should  desire  him?"  And  is  there  not 
another  thought  w^hich  ariseth  to  the  mind  in  the  contempla- 
tion of  Jesus  as  the  Flower  of  the  field  ?-  Yes  !  methinks  I 
behold,  in  the  exposure  of  the  flower  of  the  field  to  the  mer- 
ciless treading  of  the  foot  of  the  passenger,  and  to  the  pluck- 
ing up  or  destroying  by  wild  beasts,  a  striking  representation 
of  Jesus,  who,  in  the  days  of  his  flesh,  was  encompassed  by 
beasts  of  prey,  and  trodden  down  of  men.  Alas  !  how  many 
even  now  in  the  present  hour  despise  thy  person,  live  regard- 
less of  thy  righteousness,  have  trodden  under  foot  the  Son  of 
God,  and  count  the  blood  of  the  covenant  an  unholy  thing ! 
But,  precious  Jesus !  give  me  to  behold  thee  as  the  sweet 
Flower  of  the  field,  open  to  the  view  of  every  traveller,  and 
shedding  the  richness  of  thy  fragrancy,  under  all  the  influ- 
ences of  thy  Spirit,  both  in  the  north  wind,  and  the  south 
wind  of  thy  power.  Ye  travellers  to  Zion,  come,  see  this 
lovely  Flow^er  in  the  open  field  of  his  word,  his  church,  his 
ordinances !     Behold  the  freeness  of  his  bloom,  his  beauty, 


140  MORNING*  PORTION. 

and  odour.  He  sheds  his  influences,  not  in  a  garden  in- 
closed that  ye  cannot  approach,  but  in  the  open  field.  Here 
he  stands,  as  the  Plant  of  Renown,  which  God  hath  raised 
up.  Oh  !  come  to  him  as  the  Balm  of  Gilead,  and  the  Phy- 
sician there,  that  the  hurt  of  the  daughter  of  his  people  may 
be  healed. 


19. — Is  this  thy  kmdness  to  thy  friend  ? — 2  Sam.  xvi.  1 7. 

My  soul,  borrow  the  words  of  Absalom  to  Hushai,  and 
make  application  of  them  this  morning  to  thyself,  as  if  Jesus, 
the  best  of  all  friends,  were  thus  reasoning  with  thee.  In 
how  many  wavs  hath  Jesus  manifested  his  love  to  thee  ? 
Think  of  this  unparalled  love  in  the  various  ways  by  which 
he  hath  shown  it.  He  engaged  as  thy  Surety  before  that 
thou  knewest  any  need  of  one.  He  took  thy  nature  to  fulfil 
all  those  engagements.  He  loved  thee  so  as  to  die  for  thee. 
He  loved  thee  so  as  to  shed  his  blood  for  thee.  He  loved 
thee  so  as  to  wash  thee  from  thy  sins  in  his  blood.  He 
loveth  thee  now,  so  as  to  appear  in  the  presence  of  God  for 
thee.  He  loveth  thee  so  as  to  be  continually  supplying  thee 
with  all  grace,  to  visit  thee,  to  smile  upon  thee,  to  sanctify  to 
thee  all  his  appointments  for  thy  good ;  and  will  never  give 
over  until  he  hath  brought  thee  where  he  is,  to  behold  his 
glory,  and  to  partake  of  it.  And  hast  thou  not  recompensed 
this  love,  this  mercy,  in  a  thousand,  and  ten  thousand  in- 
stances, with  ingratitude,  wdth  indifference,  with  forgetful- 
ness,  with  disobedience?  Is  this  thy  kindness  to  thy  friend? 
Precious  Jesus !  I  do  remember  my  faults  this  day.  Oh, 
gracious  Lord,  grant  me  from  henceforth  to  live  wholly  to 
thee  ;  to  be  continually  eyeing  thee,  walking  with  thee,  cleav- 
ing to  thee,  hanging  upon  thee,  and  to  remember  thee  and 
thy  love  more  than  wine  !  Yes,  thou  dearest  Redeemer  !  I 
would  pray  for  grace  to  set  thee  alwaj'-s  before  me,  to  record 
in  my  heart  thy  mercies,  and  to  set  up  in  my  heart  thy  person, 
to  follow  thee  whithersoever  thou  goest,  to  watch  the  steps  of 
Jesus,  to  pursue  thee  in  all  the  haunts  of  thy  paths,  at  thy 
table,  at  thine  ordinances,  in  thy  word,  in  thine  house  of 
prayer,  in  thy  providences,  in  thy  promises :  every  where, 
and  in  all  things,  where  Jesus  is,  there  may  my  soul  be  ; 
that,  having  nothing  to  give  my  Lord  to  recompense  his 
bounty,  I  may  at  least  by  his  grace  follow  him,  to  bless  him, 
and  to  manifest  that  all  1  am,  and  all  I  have,  is  his.  My 
soul,  see  to  it,  that  this  is  at  least  thy  kindness  to  thy  friend ! 


MAY.  141 

20. — Length  of  days  is  in  her  riglit  hand,  and  iu  her  left  hand  riches 
and  honour. — Prov.  iii.  16. 

What  is  sweetly  said  of  Jesus  in  one  scripture,  as  the 
Glory-wisdom,  is  as  sweetly  sung-  in  another  scripture,  as 
the  Husband  of  his  church  and  people.  Yes,  Lord !  thy 
right-hand  blessings  may  well  be  called  length  of  days,  for 
they  are  life  itself,  even  life  everlasting  in  thee:  and  thy  left- 
hand  mercies,  \vhich  include  all  temporal  good,  may  well 
merit  the  name  of  riches  and  honour,  for  thou  givest  to  all 
that  love  thee  to  inherit  substance,  and  thou  fillest  all  their 
treasures.  There  is  no  substance  in  any,  nothing  satisfying, 
nothing  substantial,  where  thou  art  not.  Why  then,  blessed 
Jesus,  if  these  things  be  so,  I  would  say  to  thee,  as  the  church 
of  old  did,  "Put  thy  left  hand  under  my  head,  and  let  thy 
right  hand  embrace  me."  This  will  make  every  thing  sweet, 
and  every  thing  precious.  Even  thy  left  hand  blessings,  in 
the  sanctified  use  of  afflictions,  sorrow,  bereaving  providences, 
sickness,  and  the  like,  even  these,  being  Jesus'  appointments, 
will  bring  with  them  Jesus'  blessing  ;  and  while  thine  hand 
is  under  my  head,  how  shall  these,  or  aught  else,  separate 
nie  from  thee?  And  concerning  thy  righthand  blessings, 
in  the  pardon  of  my  sins,  washing  me  in  thy  blood,  clothing 
me  with  thy  righteousness,  justifying  me  with  thy  salvation, 
feeding  me,  sustaining  me,  leading  me,  coniforting  me,  bring- 
ing me  on,  and  bringing  me  through,  and  by  and  by  bringing 
me  home,  to  glory :  that  where  thou  art,  there  I  shall  be  also : 
oh,  precious  Jesus!  grant  me  in  this  sweet  sense  to  know 
thee,  and  to  enjoy  thee,  in  every  thing  ;  for  sure  I  am,  that 
riches  and  honour  are  wath  thee,  yea,  durable  riches  and 
righteousness. 


21. — He  found  him  in  a  desert  land,  and  in  the  v^^aste  howling  wilderness. 
Deut.  xxxii.  10. 

My  soul !  behold  in  this  view  of  Israel  thy  case  and  cir- 
cumstances. Where  did  Jesus  find  thee,  when  he  passed  by 
and  bade  thee  live,  but  cast  out,  loathsome  in  thy  person,  and 
perishing  in  nature  ?  Remember,  then,  it  was  Jesus  found 
thee,  and  not  thou  him.  And  where  wast  thou  born,  and 
new-born,  and  nursed,  and  educated,  and  trained  ?  Was  it 
not  in  a  desert  land,  and  in  the  waste  howling  wilderness? 
Can  any  thing  be  better  suited  to  represent  thy  state  by  na- 
ture ?     Is  not  the  heart  of  man  like  the  heath  upon  the  desert, 


142  MORNING    PORTION. 

that  knoweth  not  when  good  cometh?  Is  it  not  like  the 
ground,  dry,  parched,  and  barren  ?  And  as  a  wilderness  is 
a  land  not  inhabited,  full  of  perplexed  paths  and  intricate 
ways,  without  food,  without  sustenance,  and  no  springs  of 
water  ;  can  any  thing  more  strikingly  resemble  the  whole 
of  thy  spiritual  circumstances,  w^hen  Jesus  called  thee  from 
darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  sin  and  Satan  to 
himself  the  living  God  ?  And  as  the  wilderness  is  a  barren 
state,  so  is  it  dangerous  also,  by  reason  of  the  prowling  beasts 
of  prey  which  inhabit  it.  And  hath  Jesus  called  thee  out  of 
it,  brought  thee  to  a  city  of  habitation,  and  made  himself 
known  unto  thee  as  thy  Redeemer  ?  Oh  !  how  sweet  is  it  to 
trace  ail  our  spiritual  circumstances,  in  the  mercy,  grace,  and 
favour,  Jesus  manifested  to  Israel,  thus  beautifully  illustrated 
and  explained,  and  to  see,  and  know,  and  truly  rejoice  in  our 
unspeakable  mercies  in  Jesus.  My  soul !  never  forget  then 
that  it  was  in  the  wilderness  of  nature  Jesus  found  thee!  and 
hath  he  indeed  brought  thee  out  of  it  1  See  then  that  thou 
art  now  coming  up  from  it  leaning  upon  thy  Beloved  ;  hang- 
ing wholly  upon  him,  cleaving- wholly  to  him,  and  determin- 
ing for  thyself,  in  ever}--  remaining  period  of  time,  and  to  all 
eternity,  to  make  Jesus  thy  all.  thy  life,  thy  portion,  thy  shield, 
and  thine  exceeding  great  reward  ! 

22. — Thy  daughter  is  dead  ;  trouble  not  the  Master. — Luke  viii.  49. 

Mark,  my  soul,  in  the  exercises  of  the  father  of  this  child, 
and  in  the  happy  issue  of  his  application  to  Jesus,  how  very 
precious  it  is,  to  wait  the  Lord's  time  for  deliverance,  and  al- 
ways to  keep  in  view  that  delays  are  not  denials.  The  poor 
man's  child  was  nearly  dead  when  he  first  came  to  Christ. 
And  had  the  greatest  dispatch  been  used,  there  would  have 
been  still  much  occasion  for  the  exercise  of  faith  and  pa- 
tience. But  as  if  this  was  not  enough,  another  poor  suf- 
ferer comes  in  the  way  to  stop  the  progress  of  Jesus  in  the 
cure  of  his  daughter,  and  during  this  loss  of  time  his  child 
dies.  My  soul !  here  is  a  sweet  subject  for  thee.  Do  thy 
fears,  and  unbelief,  and  doubts,  and  misgivings,  aided  by  the 
suggestions  of  the  enemy,  too  often  pronipt  thee  to  think  thy 
case  hopeless  ;  and  every  thing  joins  the  cry.  Thy  daughter 
is  dead,  trouble  not  the  iVlaster  ?  Oh!  think  what  a  precious 
opportunity  all  these  afford  thee  to  follow  up  the  patriarch's 
faith,  and  against  hope  to  believe  in  hope.  What  cannot 
Jesus  accomplish  ?     Though  the  daughter  be  dead  ;  though 


% 

MAY.  143 

Lazarus  be  four  days  in  the  grave ;  yet  Jesus,  who  is  the 
resurrection  and  the  life,  need  only  speak  the  word,  and  both 
live.  In  like  manner,  when  exercises  arise  to  the  greatest 
height,  until  unbelief  suggests  all  is  over,  dead  frames,  a 
dead  heart,  deadness  to  all,  then  is  the  very  time  to  believe, 
m  order  to  see  the  glory  of  God.  Strictly  and  properly 
speaking,  Jesus  cannot  be  glorified  until  the  stream  of  all 
other  resources  is  dried  up.  Mark  it  then,  my  soul,  thy  time 
to  trust  Jesus  is,  when  nothing  in  nature,  but  wholly  grace, 
must  trust  him.  And  depend  upon  it,  the  greater  the  diffi- 
culty for  the  keeping  faith  alive,  the  greater  glory  will  you 
give  to  Jesus  in  the  exercise  of  it,  and  the  greater  glory  that 
blessed  Saviour  will  receive  from  you  in  supplying  that  faith 
during  the  dead  hour,  until  the  deliverance  comes.  Hear 
Jesus'  voice  in  thy  instance,  be  it  what  it  may,  as  in  the  case 
of  this  distressed  father,  for  the  issue  will  be  the  same :  fear 
not ;  believe  only,  and  thou  shalt  live. 

23. — Such  au  one  as  Paul  the  aged. — Philemon  9. 

And  what  was  Paul  in  the  moment  here  represented? 
Verily  an  aged  servant  of  his  Master,  but  not  retired  from 
the  scene  of  action.  Paul,  though  grown  old  in  the  Lord's 
service,  was  still  as  hotly  engaged  as  ever,  in  the  Lord's 
battle.  Art  thou  such  an  one,  my  soul,  as  Paul  was  %  Then 
learn  from  hence,  that  however  many,  or  however  heavy, 
former  campaigns  have  been,  there  is  no  rest  for  thee  this 
side  Jordan,  no  more  than  for  Paul ;  no  winter  quarters  for 
the  true  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ.  Until  thy  Captain  undress 
thee  for  the  grave,  the  holy  armour  in  which  he  hath  clad 
thee  is  not  to  be  taken  off  Art  thou  such  an  one  as  Paul  the 
aged  1  Then,  like  Paul,  see  that  thou  art  strong  in  the  Lord, 
and  in  the  power  of  his  might.  And  how  sweet  the  thought! 
Thy  Jesus,  who  hath  borne  thee  from  the  womb,  and  carried 
thee  from  the  belly,  knows  well  the  burthen  of  thy  increas- 
ing years,  and  all  the  infirmities  belonging  to  them,  and  will 
carry  both  thee  and  them.  Yes,  my  soul,  those  very  infirmi- 
ties which  the  tenderest-hearted  friend  sometimes  feels  impa- 
tient at,  and  even  thyself,  thou  knowest  not  how  to  bear,  Jesus 
feels,  Jesus  commisserates,  Jesus  will  soften  !  He  that  hath 
carried  all  thy  sins,  carrieth  also  all  thy  sorrows.  Doth  he 
not  say  so  ?  Even  to  your  old  age  I  am  he ;  and  even  to 
hoar  hairs  I  will  carry  you.  I  have  made,  and  I  will  bear  ; 
even  I  will  carry,  and  will  deliver  you,  Isaiah  xlvi.  3,  4. 


144  MORNING    PORTION. 

Precious  Lamb  of  God !  henceforth  I  cast  all  my  burdens 
upon  thee.  Thou  hast  never  called  thyself,  I  AM,  for  no- 
thing. Thou  hast  indeed  made  me,  and  new-made  me.  Thou 
hast  borne  all  my  sins  in  thine  own  body  on  the  tree.  Art 
thou  not  both  the  Alpha  and  the  Omega,  both  the  Author  and 
Finisher,  of  my  salvation?  Oh,  yes:  thou  hast  been  every 
thing  to  me,  and  for  me,  from  the  womb  of  creation  ;  borne 
me  on  eagle's  wings ;  made  me,  and  new-made  me ;  re- 
deemed me,  in  a  thousand  redemptions,  and  been  better  to 
me  than  all  my  fears !  What,  indeed,  hast  thou  not  done  for 
me?  And  now  then,  being  such  an  one  as  Paul  the  aged, 
shall  I  now  doubt,  or  now^  fear,  when  every  pain,  and  every 
cross,  and  every  new  assault  from  sin,  and  Satan,  bid  me  go 
to  Jesus.  Oh  !  for  grace,  ever  to  keep  in  view  what  thou 
hast  said  and  done,  and  what  thou  hast  promised.  Yes,  yes : 
it  is  enough ;  Jesus  hath  said,  "  even  to  your  old  age  I  am 
he."  The  same  I  have  been,  the  same  I  will  ever  be.  I 
will  never  leave  thee,  nor  forsake  thee.  Shout,  my  soul,  and 
cry  out  Hallelujah  !  He  that  hath  been  my  first,  will  be  my 
last ;  my  strength,  my  song,  my  salvation  for  ever  ! 

24. — Then  ceased  the  work  of  the  house  of  God. — Ezra  iv.  24. 

Ah  !  how  distressed  was  Zion,  when  this  decree  took 
place.  And  yet  the  history  of  the  church  plainly  proves 
that  the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  in  it !  My  soul,  are  thine 
exercises  sometimes  similar  ?  Doth  it  seem  to  thee  as  if  the 
work  of  God  in  thee  was  at  a  stand  ?  nay,  as  if  it  was  to- 
tally over  ?  Pause!  recollect  there  is  a  set  time  to  favour 
Zion.  Thy  Jesus  is  of  one  mind,  and  who  can  turn  him  ? 
He  is  everlastingly  pursuing  the  designs  of  his  love.  And 
as  Zion  was  graven  upon  the  palms  of  his  hands,  and  her 
walls  were  continually  before  him,  when  she  appeared  in  her 
most  desolate  circumstances ;  so  the  work  of  his  grace,  in 
the  heait  of  his  people,  doth  not  remit,  though,  to  thy  view, 
all  thy  promising  beginnings  seem  to  be  blighted,  and  as  it 
seems  in  thy  apprehension,  thou  findest  growing  imperfec- 
tion. And  is  not  Jesus,  by  this  very  means,  emptying  thee 
of  self,  and  all  the  pride  of  self-attainments?  Is  he  not  pre- 
paring thee  for  his  own  glory,  by  removing  in  thee  the  rub- 
bish of  all  creature-confidences?  Remember  what  is  said; 
When  the  Lord  shall  build  up  Zion,  he  shall  appear  in  his 
glory.  Mark  here,  that  it  is  the  Lord  that  is  to  build  Zion : 
and  it  is  the  Lord's  glory,  and  not  thine,  that  is  to  result  from 


# 


MAY.  *^^B^  ^^^ 

it.  The  work  of  the  house  of  God  in  thee  would  indeed 
cease,  if  the  work  was  thine,  or  thou  hadst  any  hand  in  the 
performance  of  it!  But  the  same  almighty  hand  which  laid 
the  foundation  of  this  house,  those  hands  shall  also  finish  it. 
And  by  this  process,  the  glorious  Builder  is  teaching  thee  to 
cease  from  thine  own  works,  as  Jesus  when  redemption-work 
was  finished,  did  from  his.  Precious  Lord !  is  this  the  cause, 
and  are  these  the  lessons,  thou  art  teaching  me,  in  the  dead- 
ness,  emptiness,  and  the  numberless  complaints  under  which 
I  daily  groan?  Oh!  then,  for  grace  to  cease  from  self,  to 
cease  from  all  fancied  attainments,  and  to  have  my  whole 
heart  and  soul  centred  in  thee,  in  whom  alone  is  all  righ- 
teousness, grace,  work,  and  fulness.  Yes,  Lord !  the  work 
is  thine,  the  salvation  is  thine,  the  glory  is  thine,  all  is  thine ; 
and  all  that  remains  for  me,  is  to  be  for  ever  giving  thee  the 
just  praise  that  is  due  to  thy  most  holy  name,  content  to  be 
nothing,  yea,  less  than  nothing,  that  the  power  of  Jesus  may 
rest  upon  me :  for  when  most  weak  in  myself,  then  am  I  most 
strong  in  the  Lord,  and  in  the  power  of  his  might. 

25. — And  the  inhabitant  shall  not  say,  I  am  sick  ;  the  people  that  dwell 
therein  shall  be  forgiven  their  iniquity. — Isaiah  xxxiii.  24. 

What  is  this  ?  What  happy  climate  is  there  where  any 
of  its  inhabitants  are  exempt  from  sickness  ?  Where  is  that 
salubrious  air,  that  is  not  impregnated  with  disease?  Surely, 
no  where  but  in  heaven.  But  if  the  cause  of  sickness  be 
1-emoved,  if  the  envenomed  dart  of  sin  be  taken  out,  and  hath 
lost  its  poison,  the  inhabitant  no  longer  complains,  for  both 
the  evil  and  the  pain  is  gone.  My  soul,  hast  thou  found  this 
happy  spot?  Hath  Jesus  manifested  such  views  of  his  par- 
doning grace,  in  the  all-sufficiency  of  his  blood  and  righ- 
teousness, that  thou  not  only  art  fully  convinced  and  satisfied 
that  his  blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin,  but  that  thou  as  fully 
believest  and  restest  in  it  for  thy  salvation,  and  art  of  the 
happy  number  of  those  who  believe  to  the  salvation  of  the 
soul  ?  Hath  Jesus  said  to  thee,  as  to  the  poor  man  in  the 
gospel,  "Son,  be  of  good  cheer,  thy  sins  are  forgiven  thee?" 
Surely,  then,  thou  art  the  inhabitant  the  prophet  pointed  at, 
and  art  no  longer  sick,  but  dwelling  in  the  faith,  and  for- 
given thine  iniquity.  Blessed  Physician !  I  am  no  longer 
sick  of  that  dreadful  sickness  which  is  unto  death,  in  an  un- 
renewed, unpardoned,  unregenerated  state;  but  I  am  sick 
indeed,  and  fainting,  for  the  fresh  manifestations  of  thy  grace. 

13 


146  MORNING    PORTION. 

I  am  languishing,  thou  dearest  Lord,  for  the  renewed  visits 
of  thy  love,  the  enjoyment  of  thy  person,  the  larger,  fuller, 
more  constant  discoveries  of  thyself  and  thy  glory.  When 
wilt  thou  come  unto  me  ?  When  will  the  day  of  everlasting 
light  break  in  upon  my  soul?  When  shall  I  behold  thee 
among  the  inhabitants  of  the  upper,  brighter  world  ?  Oh  ! 
ye  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect,  ye  who  now  dwell  for 
ever  under  the  perpetual  smiles  of  Jesus'  face ;  ye  who  once 
knew  what  it  was  to  live  in  the  unceasing  desire  of  his  re- 
newed visits,  and  how  precious  all  his  love  tokens  are — tell 
him  what  longings  my  soul  now  hath,  and  what  faintings  I 
feel,  for  his  manifestation.  Tell  him,  I  charge  you,  Oh  ye 
daughters  of  the  New  Jerusalem,  ye  that  everlastingly  be- 
hold my  Beloved,  tell  him  that  I  am  sick  of  love ! 


26. — Thou  hast  ascended  on  high  ;  thou  hast  led  captivity  captive  :  thou 
hast  received  gifts  for  men  ;  yea,  for  the  rebelUous  also,  that  the 
Lord  God  might  dvi^ell  among  them. — Psalm  Ixviii.  18 

Sweet  view  of  a  risen,  ascended,  and  triumphant  Saviour. 
My  soul,  ponder  over  these  words,  and  while  meditating  upon 
them,  see  that  thou  art  ascending  after  thy  exalted  Head,  and 
partaking  in  his  glories.  Jesus  is  he  who  hath  indeed  as- 
cended, far  above  all  heavens,  that  he  might  fill  all  things. 
He  hath  led  captivity  captive  ;  and  that  not  only  in  conquer- 
ing all  the  powers  of  hell,  but  taking  his  people  that  were  in 
captivity  out  of  the  prison-house,  and  causing  them  to  partake 
in  the  felicity  of  his  triumphs.  And  mark,  my  soul,  Avhat 
follows:  He  hath  received  gifts  for  men  ;  or,  as  the  Apostle 
to  the  church  of  Ephesus  expresseth  the  same  blessed  truth, 
he  gave  gifts  to  men.  Eph.  iv.  8.  And  sweetly  Jesus  hath 
done  both  ;  for  he  received  that  he  might  give.  He  needed 
not  for  himself,  but  it  was  all  for  his  people.  He  said  him- 
self, when  speaking  to  the  Father,  "  that  I  should  give  eternal 
life  to  as  many  as  thou  hast  given  me."  And,  my  soul,  mark 
another  sweet  expression  in  these  vv^ords ;  he  hath  received 
gifts  for  men  ;  or,  as  the  margin  of  our  old  Bibles  hath  it, 
(and  our  old  Bibles  are  like  old  gold,  precious  things,)  he 
nath  received  gifts  iji  the  man ;  that  is,  in  his  human  na- 
ture,  as  Mediator,  to  give  out  to  his  people.  See  then,  my 
soul,  all  thy  blessings  are  treasured  up  in  Him  that  is,  in  one 
and  the  same  moment,  thy  God  and  thy  Brother.  Oh,  glo- 
rious thought !  oh,  soul-cornforting  truth !  Neither  is  this 
all:  for  this  sweet  scripture  points  out  also  for  whom  he  hath 


MAY.  147 

received  gifts.  It  is  for  men.  Not  for  angels,  but  for  men. 
Not  for  holy  men  neither,  but  for  sinners.  Not  for  Jews 
only,  but  for  Gentiles.  "  Yea,"  saith  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  if 
the  Lord  the  Spirit  would  lay  an  emphasis  upon  it,  that  it 
might  be  particularly  noticed,  '•  for  the  rebellious  also,  that 
the  Lord  God  might  dwell  among  them."'  Oh,  matchless 
grace!  Oh,  world  of  wonders!  Fallen  angels  passed  by, 
and  rebels  of  men  taken  into  favour.  Great  Father  of  mer- 
cies !  what  manner  of  love  is  this  which  thou  hast  bestowed 
upon  our  fallen  nature?  Oh,  thou  risen  and  exalted  Jesus  ! 
send  down,  Lord,  thine  ascension  gifts.  Nay,  blessed  Lord  ! 
come  down  thyself  and  dwell  among  us.  Set  up  thy  church 
in  the  earth,  in  the  hearts  and  souls  of  thy  people,  and  reign 
and  rule  there,  the  Lord  of  life  and  glory. 

27. — Thine  ears  shall  hear  a  word  behmd  thee,  saying,  This  is  the  way, 
walk  ye  in  it,  when  ye  turn  to  the  right  band,  and  when  ye  turn  to 
the  left. — Isaiah  xxx.  21. 

My  soul,  who  is  this  Almighty  Teacher,  out  of  sight,  but 
the  Holy  Ghost?  And  to  what  way  doth  he  point,  but  to 
Jesus,  who  is  both  the  way,  and  the  truth,  and  the  life?  Art 
thou  ever  at  a  stand  ?  listen  to  this  voice.  Art  thou  about  to 
turn  to  the  right,  or  left?  see  how  seasonably  he  is  promised 
to  come  to  direct  thee.  Condescend,  thou  gracious,  matchless 
Instructor,  to  guide  me  I  I  shall  not  fail  then  to  know  the 
wholesomeness  of  thy  teaching,  when  thou  hast  opened  mine 
eyes  to  see  the  wondrous  things  of  thy  law.  I  shall  indeed 
know  that  thou  art  my  Director,  because  thou  hast  said,  '•  I 
the  Lord  teacheth  thee  to  profit."  And  when  thy  word  comes 
not  in  word  only,  but  in  power,  and  in  thee  the  Holy  Ghost, 
surely  I  shall  know  it,  in  that  it  not  only  reaches  mj  ear,  but 
will  influence  my  heart;  not  only  will  instruct  and  teach  me 
in  the  way  wherein  I  should  go,  but  will  incline  my  feet  to 
walk  in  it.  Yes,  thou  infallible  Teacher  !  I  shall  knovrthee 
to  be  the  Spirit  of  truth,  by  guiding  me  into  all  truth.  I  shall 
know  the  voice  of  the  Spirit  of  Jesus,  because  it  vrill  prompt 
me  to  follow  Jesus.  Did  I  hear  a  voice,  telling  me  of  a  way 
of  salvation  in  a  righteousness  of  my  own :  did  I  sit  under  a 
teaching  which  sent  me  to  my  tears,  and  repentance,  and 
alms  deeds,  by  way  of  recommending  me  to  God :  did  I 
listen  to  the  siren  song,  which  told  me  of  safety  in  myself, 
and  my  own  best  endeavours,  and  that  Christ  would  do  the 
rest;  or  did  any  teach  me  that  I  must  not  come  to  Jesus  until 


148  MORNING    PORTION. 

that,  by  some  previous  acts  of  soul-cleansing  in  prayers  and 
fastings,  I  had  made  myself  fit :  in  all  these  cases,  and  the 
like,  I  should  know  that  they  could  not  be  the  voice  behind 
me,  promised  to  direct ;  because  it  is  thy  one  glorious  office, 
thou  holy  and  eternal  Spirit,  to  testify  of  Jesus,  and  to  glorify 
him.  When,  therefore,  I  hear  the  voice  behind  me,  saying, 
This  is  the  way,  walk  ye  in  it ;  and  when  it  directs  me 
wholly  to  Jesus  ;  when  every  thing  in  this  divine  teaching 
enlightens  my  mind  in  the  knou^edge  of  the  person,  relation, 
work,  power,  grace,  righteousness,  and  love  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ ;  and  when  that  blessed  voice  bids  me  to  come 
unto  him,  just  as  I  am,  a  poor,  vile,  needy,  perishing  sinner, 
to  venture  upon  him  for  life  and  salvation,  and  how  to  receive 
and  improve  the  Lord  Jesus,  in  his  infinite  suitableness  to  all 
my  necessities :  oh,  how  fully  verified  to  my  experience  is 
this  sweet  promise  of  my  God  to  my  soul !  Holy  Father  ! 
cause  me  to  hear  this  blessed  voice,  in  the  daily,  hourly  path 
of  my  pilgrimage ;  and  grant  me  the  spirit  of  wisdom  and 
revelation,  in  the  knovvdedge  of  thy  dear  Son. 

28. — They  shall  grow  as  the  vine. — Hosea  xiv.  7. 

And  how  doth  the  vine  grow  ?  Why,  in  those  soils  that 
are  favourable  to  it,  vines  are  not  erect  like  trees,  neither  are 
they  fixed,  as  we  do  our  vines,  against  walls  ;  but  the  vine 
creeps  along  upon  the  ground,  and  rests  its  tender  stalk  and 
branches  upon  the  nearest  prop  that  will  stay  it.  And,  my 
soul,  is  it  not  so  with  the  believer  that  wholly  leans  upon 
Jesus,  and  throws  the  arms  of  faith  wholly  upon  Him,  as  the 
staff,  and  stay,  and  support  of  all  confidence  ?  And  there  is 
another  property  of  the  vine  which  carries  with  it  a  striking 
resemblance  to  the  believer,  namely,  the  tenderness  of  its 
nature,  and  danger  to  which  it  is  exposed.  How  very  weak, 
and  poor,  and  frail  and  helpless  is  the  child  of  God  !  What 
can  a  believer  perform  in  himself?  And  what  an  host  of 
foes  is  he  exposed  to  !  Corruption  within,  and  the  enemy  on 
every  side,  make  his  case  truly  like  the  vine,  exposed  to  the 
wild  beast,  and  nipping  v/inds,  and  storms,  which  every  mo- 
ment threaten  to  destroy  it.  And  there  is  a  third  particularity 
by  which  both  are  known.  While  flourishing,  to  what  an 
extensive  length  will  the  vine  throw  out  her  branches,  and 
what  an  abundance  of  fruit  will  it  bear  !  And  doth  not  the 
believer,  in  this  sense,  grow  as  the  vine,  when,  from  being 
ingrafted  in  Jesus,  and  nourished  by  him,  and  from  him,  his 


MAY.  149 

fruit  being  found,  sends  forth  the  graces  and  fruits  of  the 
Spirit,  and  brings  forth  some  thirty,  some  sixty,  and  some  an 
hundred  fold  ?  And,  to  mention  no  more,  wJiat  a  likeness 
is  there  between  the  dry,  unpromising  stick  of  the  vine,  and 
the  lifeless  and  unpromising  appearance  of  the  believer!  As 
Jesus  himself,  when  upon  earth,  was  like  a  root  out  of  a  dry 
ground,  so  all  his  followers  now  are  men  every  where  won- 
dered at.  Precious  Jesus  !  thou  glorious  Vine  of  thy  church  ! 
cause  me  to  be  so  united  to  thee,  as  a  branch  in  thee,  the  one 
heavenly  Plant  thy  Father  hath  planted,  that  in  thee  my 
fruit  may  be  found  ;  that  I  may  be  perpetually  receiving  fresh 
communications  from  thee,  and  living  upon  thee,  and  to  thee, 
and  rejoicing  in  thee,  the  Source  and  Fountain  of  all  that  is 
gracious  here,  and  the  everlasting  Spring  of  glory,  happiness, 
and  joy,  that  shall  be  hereafter. 

29. — As  by  the  offence  of  one,  judgment  came  upon  all  men  to  condem- 
nation ;  even  so  by  the  righteousness  of  one,  the  free  gift  came  upon 
all  men  unto  justification  of  life. — Romans  v.  18. 

Concerning  the  ruin  in  which  thou  art  involved  in  Adam, 
surely,  my  soul,  thou  knowest  and  feelest  it  from  day  to  day. 
No  one  can  persuade  thee  out  of  this.  Thou  art  as  much 
concerned  in  the  sin,  and  consequently  implicated  in  the  pun- 
ishment, of  the  first  man's  transgression,  as  if  thou  hadst  been 
(and  which  indeed  as  thy  root  and  head  thou  really  wert)  in 
the  garden  with  him  when  he  did  it.  And  thou  feelest  the 
same  disposition  to  sin,  the  same  rebellion  in  thy  very  nature. 
So  that  most  fully  and  freely  dost  thou  subscribe  to  the  rights 
of  God's  judgment,  that  condemnation  cometh  upon  all  men, 
because  all  have  sinned.  Now  then  see,  my  soul,  whether, 
through  the  same  Almighty  Teacher  who  convinced  thee  of 
sin,  thou  art  convinced  also  of  the  righteousness  of  Jesus,  and 
art  as  fully  and  as  truly  interested  in  all  that  belongs  unto 
him.  Now  as  Adam  and  his  seed  are  one  in  sin  and  its  just 
consequences,  so  equally  Christ  and  his  seed,  in  the  eye  of 
God's  law  and  justice,  are  one  in  Christ's  righteousness. 
Remember,  my  soul,  (and  it  is  a  great  point  to  remember,) 
Jesus  is  never  spoken  of  in  Scripture  as  a  single  person  and 
as  the  Christ  of  God,  but  as  the  Covenant  Head.  He  is  as 
much  the  head,  the  root,  the  common  stock,  of  all  his  spiritual 
seed,  as  Adam  was  the  head,  and  root,  and  stock,  of  all  his 
natural  seed.  So  then,  as  Adam's  sin  is  the  sin  of  all  his 
children,  because  they  are  his  children ;  even  so  the  righ- 
13* 


150  MORNING   PORTION. 

teousness  of  Christ,  the  second  Adam,  so  called,  is  the  righ- 
teousness of  all  his  children,  because  they  are  his  children. 
This  is  so  plain  a  truth,  that  it  can  need  no  further  argument. 
The  next  point  now  is,  in  order  to  enjoy  all  the  comfort  and 
blessedness  which  ariseth  out  of  this  precious  doctrine,  that 
thou  shouldest  be  able,  my  soul,  to  prove  that  thou  art  of 
Christ's  seed.  Very  fully  thou  provest  from  day  to  day,  by 
the  remains  of  indwelling  corruption  that  ariseth  within,  that 
thou  art  of  the  stock  of  the  first  Adam :  how  wilt  thou  prove 
thy  relationship  to  the  second?  For  as  upon  the  presump- 
tion I  had  not  sprung  from  the  stock  of  Adam,  and  none  of 
his  blood  was  running  in  my  veins,  I  should  not  have  par- 
taken of  his  sin,  or  been  subject  to  his  punishment ;  so  equally 
evident  it  is,  that  if  I  am  not  born  again  and  belong  to  the 
seed  of  Christ,  I  am  not  interested  in  him  or  his  righteous- 
ness. Blessed  be  God !  the  relationship  with  Jesus,  as  the 
glorious  Head  and  Mediator  of  his  people,  is  as  easily  to  be 
proved  as  the  relationship  with  Adarn.  God  promised  to 
pour  out  of  his  spirit  upon  Christ's  seed,  Isaiah  xliv.  3,  4,  5. 
Hast  thou  then,  my  soul,  the  s.pirit  of  Christ,  as  thou  hast  the 
nature  of  Adam  ?  Is  Jesus  precious,  more  precious  than  gold 
— his  salvation  dear — his  righteousness  thy  only  confidence  1 
Canst  thou,  and  dost  thou,  say  with  one  of  old,  this  is  ail  my 
salvation,  and  all  my  desire.  Is  He  whom  the  Father  de- 
lighteth  in,  thy  delight — he  that  is  the  desire  of  all  nations, 
thy  desire  ?  If  these  and  the  like  testimonies  are  in  thy  ex- 
perience, my  soul,  what  greater  evidences  dost  thou  need,  to 
manifest  thy  relationship  to  thy  Jesus,  as  thy  corruptions  prove 
thee  allied  to  the  old  nature.  See  then,  my  soul,  that  thou 
foldest  up  this  soul-reviving  truth  for  thy  bosom,  and  carriest 
it  about  with  thee  daily  wherever  thou  goest ;  so  will  Jesus 
be  thy  hope  and  thy  portion  for  ever* 

30. — Renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  he  shed  on  us  abundantly, 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour. — Titus  iii.  5,  6. 

Precious  office  of  the  Spirit !  Condescend,  great  God,  to 
grant  it  to  me  this  morning.  Oh,  renew  my  soul  with  all  thy 
sweet  revivals,  after  a  night  of  sleep,  as  thou  renewest  the 
face  of  the  earth.  Oh,  send  forth,  I  beseech  thee,  Lord,  all 
thy  graces,  as  suited  to  my  necessities  and  the  Redeemer's 
glory,  and  let  it  be  most  abundantly  shed  abroad  through  all 
the  faculties  of  my  soul,  through  Jesus  Christ  my  Saviour 
Pause,  my  soul,  over  the  blessed  prospect,  and,  having  now 


MAY.  151 

pleaded  in  Jesus'  name  for  the  mercy,  act  forth  upon  thy  God 
in  his  promises.  Is  not  every  morning  a  renewing  of  the 
Holy  Ghost?  Is  it  not  said  concerning  the  productions  of 
the  earth,  that  God  "  sendeth  forth  his  Spirit,  and  they  are 
created,  and  thou  renewest  the  face  of  the  earth."  See  what 
an  evidence  the  earth  gives  in  this  lovely  season,  in  the  fruits, 
and  plants,  and  verdure  all  around.  And  are  the  saints  of 
Jesus  of  a  less  sweet  smelling  savour,  when  perfumed  as  they 
are  with  the  everlasting  odour  of  Jesus'  never-failing  righteous- 
ness ?  Do  the  fields,  when  renewed  by  the  sun  of  the  morn- 
ing, look  gay,  ajid  lovely,  and  after  the  dew  or  the  refreshing 
shower,  give  out  their  odour,  perfuming  the  air  with  their 
fragrancy  ;  and  shall  not  the  saints  of  God,  when  the  Sun  of 
righteousness  ariseth  upon  them  with  healing  in  his  wings, 
send  forth  all  the  blessed  effects  of  that  presence  which  re- 
vives the  grace  Jesus  hath  planted,  and  calls  forth  into  exer- 
cise the  faith  he  hath  given?  Shall  not  the  showers  of  his 
love,  when  he  comes  down  in  them  as  rain  upon  the  mown 
grass,  and  the  dews  of  the  Holy  Ghost's  renewings,  revive 
all  the  languishing  frames  of  the  soul,  and  cause  even  the 
desert  to  blossom  abundantly,  and  to  rejoice  with  joy  and 
singing?  Yes,  yes,  thou  blessed  Lord!  methinks  I  feel  thy 
sweet  and  gracious  reneuings  :  my  very  heart  is  refreshed 
in  the  thought.  Under  thy  influence  I  will  look  up  and  wait 
the  coming  of  Jesus.  He  is  near.  He  comes.  I  hear  him 
say,  "  Rise  up,  my  beloved,  and  come  away :  for  lo,  the  win- 
ter is  past,  the  rain  is  over  and  gone,  the  flowers  appear  on 
the  earth,  the  time  of  the  singing  of  birds  is  come,  and  the 
voice  of  the  turtle  is  heard  in  our  land." 


31. — And  Jesus  came  and  spake  unto  them,  saying,  All  power  is  g^ven 
unto  me  in  heaven  and  in  earth. — Matt,  xxviii.  18, 

Hail  then,  thou  Sovereign  Lord  of  all !  I  have  lately 
been  following  thee  in  sweet  and  solemn  meditation  through 
the  seasons  of  thy  humiliation  ;  now  let  me  behold  thee  on 
thy  throne.  And  here  I  am  called  upon  to  contemplate  my 
Lord  a.nd  my  God  as  possessing  universal  dominion.  Pon- 
der, my  soul,  the  vast  extent.  Thy  Jesus,  as  God,  as  one 
with  the  Father,  possesseth  in  common  with  him  all  power 
from  everlasting.  This  is  his,  as  God,  essentially  so  ;  not 
given  to  him,  for  by  nature  it  is  his,  being  "  one  with  the 
Father,  over  all  God  blessed  for  ever.  Amen,"  said  Paul, 
so  let  it  be,  so  shall  it  be.     And  so  say  I,  and  so  saith  all  the 


152  MORNLNG    PORTION. 

church :  Amen,  Amen.  But  what  thy  Jesus  saith  here,  in 
these  blessed  words,  is  of  a  power  given  to  him :  and  that  is 
a  power  as  the  Head  of  his  church  and  people.  And  al- 
though had  he  not  been  God,  one  with  the  Father,  he  never 
could  have  been  suited  for  the  exercise  of  this  power ;  (for 
unless  he  had  been  the  mighty  God,  how  should  he  have 
been  the  mighty  Redeemer?)  yet  being  God,  and  both  God  • 
and  man,  it  is  precious  to  consider  the  power  that  is  given  to 
the  Lord  Jesus  as  Jesus,  the  Head  over  all  things  to  the 
church,  which  is  his  body,  the  fulness  of  Him  that  filleth  all 
in  all.  Here  then,  my  soul,  let  thy  thoughts  take  wing 
this  morning.  Behold  thy  Jesus  the  Head  over  all  princi- 
pality and  power.  See  him,  by  virtue  of  his  Almighty  God- 
head, exercising  and  giving  energy  to  the  fulness  of  his 
power  as  Mediator  ;  and  in  this  view  conceive  if  it  be  possi- 
ble, to  what  an  extent  thy  Jesus  is  unceasingly  exercising 
his  power  for  the  everlasting  benefit  of  his  church  and  peo- 
ple. All  power  in  heaven :  not  only  among  the  highest  or- 
der of  created  being,  angels  and  archangels,  but  a  power 
with  God  the  Father  to  prevail  for  the  eternal  salvation  of 
all  his  redeemed.  He  left  it  as  a  record  how  he  exercised 
this  power  when  he  said  before  his  departure.  Father,  I  will 
that  they  whom  thou  hast  given  me,  be  with  me  where  I 
am,  to  behold  my  glory."  And  he  hath  power  to  send  the 
Holy  Ghost  to  all  his  people.  He  said  himself,  before  he 
went  away,  '•  If  I  go  not  away,  the  Comforter  will  not  come  ; 
but  if  I  depart,  I  will  send  him  unto  you."  Here  then, 
my  soul,  here  let  thy  thoughts  be  directed,  to  meditate 
upon  the  fulness  and  extensiveness  of  that  power  which  thy 
Jesus  possesseth  in  heaven.  Well  may  it  be  said  that  he 
hath  the  keys  of  heaven,  when  he  hath  all  power  with  the 
Father  and  with  the  Spirit.  And  w^ell  may  it  be  said  that 
he  hath  the  keys  of  hell  also,  when  all  things  in  heaven  and 
earth,  and  under  the  earth,  are  subject  to  his  command. 
And  hath  he  not  power  then,  my  soul,  suited  to  answer 
every  want  of  thine,  and  of  all  his  church  and  people  1  Hath 
he  not  power  over  all  flesh,  to  give  eternal  life  to  as  many 
as  the  Father  hath  given  him  ?  Wilt  thou  complain,  shall 
the  church  complain,  of  any  want,  while  Jesus  is  upon 
the  throne  1  Art  thou  poor,  is  the  church  poor,  weak,  help- 
less, needy,  guilty,  polluted,  oppressed,  exercised  ?  What 
of  all  these,  and  ten  thousand  other  situations,  while  Jesus 
lives,  and  hath  all  power  ?  Nay,  is  it  not  so  much  the  better 
that  the  people  of  Jesus  are  what  they  are,  that  they  may  be 


JUNE.  153 

the  better  suited  for  his  glory,  and  that  their  wants  may  give 
occasion  for  the  supplies  of  his  grace  1  Hail !  thou  Almighty 
Sovereign,  now  methinks  I  would  be  always  poor,  always 
needy,  always  feeling  my  nothingness,  thaX  all  these  may 
constrain  me  to  come  to  thee  :  so  that  every  day's  necessities 
may  afford  a  fresh  occasion  to  crown  thee  Lord  of  all  in  a 
day  of  grace  until  I  come  to  crown  thee,  with  the  whole 
church,  the  everlasting  Lord  of  all  in  heaven,  to  the  glory 
of  God  the  Father.     Amen. 


JUNE. 


1. — The  Lord  said  unto  my  Lord. — Psalm  ex.  1. 

Some  have  called  this  Psalm  David^s  Creed.  Certain  it  is 
that  there  is  scarce  an  article  of  a  true  believer's  faith,  but 
what  is  in  it.  My  soul,  look  through  it  this  morning,  if  thou 
hast  time,  and  see  whether  it  is  thy  creed.  If  not,  look  at 
this  precious  portion  of  it,  and  ask  of  the  Holy  Ghost  to 
teach  thee  the  blessed  things  contained  in  it  The  Lord  said 
unto  my  Lord :  that  is,  Jehovah  said  unto  my  Adonai.  Ob- 
serve, my  soul,  that  here,  as  in  many  other  parts  of  the  Bible, 
one  of  these  words  "  Lord"  is  m  capital  letters,  the  other  in 
small  characters.  This  no  doubt  was  done  by  the  translators, 
by  way  of  telling  the  English  reader  that  the  two  words  in 
the  original  Hebrew  are  not  the  same.  They  had  no  better 
method  of  explaining  the  difference.  But  by  using  different 
sized  letters,  they  meant  to  say  that  there  is  a  difference, 
and  the  difference  seems  to  be  this  :  the  word  Lord,  when- 
ever used  in  the  Bible  in  capital  letters,  signifies  Jehovah  ;  Fa- 
ther, Son,  and  Holy  Ghost :  not  as  a  name  of  office  in  the 
work  of  redemption,  but  as  intimating  his  own  glorious  in- 
communicable essence.  The  word  Lord  in  small  letters, 
Adonai,  is  very  frequently  (as  in  this  Psalm)  applied  to 
Christ  in  his  gracious  office  as  the  Christ  of  God  and  of  his 
people.  And  a  most  sweet  and  precious  name  it  is.  It  sig- 
nifies in  a  double  meaning,  y?r.<^,  his  own  personal  authority 
and  power ;  and,  secondly^  that  power  as  exerted  and  called 
forth  into  action  for  his  redeemed.     Look  at  thy  Jesus,  my 


154  MORNING    PORTION. 

soul,  as  thy  Adonai  this  day,  and  everyday;  and  a  thousand 
sweet  and  precious  blessings  such  a  view  of  Him,  as  a  rulerj 
and  a  support^  and  a  sustainer,  will  open  to  thy  meditation. 
Yes,  all-lovely,  all-powerful,  all-gracious  Adonai !  thou  art 
my  Adonai !  In  this  thy  name,  which  is  as  ointment  poured 
forth,  would  I  contemplate  thee.  In  this  thy  name  would  I 
rejoice  all  the  day,  and  in  thy  righteousness  would  I  be  ex- 
alted. 


2. — Living  waters  shall  go  out  from  Jerusalem  ;  half  of  them  toward  the 
former  sea,  and  half  of  them  toward  the  hinder  sea  :  in  summer  and 
in  winter  shall  it  be. — Zech.  xiv.  8. 

My  soul !  was  not  this  fulfilled  in  part  when  the  gospel 
went  forth  from  Jerusalem  ?  And  is  it  not  now  fulfilling, 
while  the  same  blessed  gospel  is  going  forth  from  sea  to  sea, 
and  from  the  river  even  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth?  Surely 
neither  the  summer's  drought,  nor  the  winter's  frost,  shall 
dry  up  or  congeal  those  living  waters.  But,  my  soul,  hast 
thou  asked  of  Jesus,  as  the  woman  of  Samaria  did  in  the  mo- 
ment of  Jesus'  promise,  for  those  living  waters?  Oh  !  if  thou 
knowest  my  soul,  this  gift  of  God,  and  wilt  daily,  hourly,  ask 
of  him,  both  in  summer  and  in  winter,  he  will  give  thee 
these  living  waters.  Oh,  contemplate  their  property,  and  then, 
my  soul,  ask  and  receive,  that  thy  joy  may  be  full.  Jesus 
himself  is  this  well  of  living  waters  ;  and  wherever  he  comes, 
like  the  waters  in  Ezekiel's  vision,  he  gives  life,  and  quickens 
sinners  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins.  Also,  Jesus  in  those 
streams  maintains  the  life  he  hath  first  given.  Moreover, 
Jesus  not  only  maintains,  but  revives,  and  renews  them,  again 
and  again,  when  the  grace  of  his  people  languish.  Again, 
these  living  waters  of  thy  Jesus  are  always  running  :  here  is 
nothing  stagnate,  but  always  flowing.  Lastly,  into  whatever 
heart  Jesus  gives  them,  they  shall  be,  as  he  hath  promised,  a 
well  of  water  springing  up  to  everlasting  life.  Are  these 
things  so  ?  And  have  the  saints  in  all  ages,  and  under  all 
dispensations  of  the  church,  both  in  the  Old  Testament  and 
in  the  New,  been  thus  supplied  ?  Is  it  indeed  He,  my  be- 
loved, who  is  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  for  ever, 
that  thus  hath  supplied,  and  is  supplying,  and  ever  will  sup- 
ply all  ?  Is  it  thou,  oh  thou  precious  Lamb  of  God  !  that  art 
in  the  midst  of  the  throne,  leading  the  church  above  to  fountains 
of  living  waters,  and  becoming  the  same  to  the  church  be- 
low?      Wilt  thovi   not  give  of   thy    fulness  to  satisfy  my 


JUNE.  155 

thirsty  soul  in  this  dry  and  barren  land,  where  no  water  is  ? 
Yes,  yes,  my  soul,  exult  with  the  church  of  old,  for  thy  Je- 
sus is  the  same :  a  fountain  of  gardens,  a  well  of  living  wa- 
ters, and  streams  from  Lebanon,  is  my  beloved  ! 

3. — In  his  favour  is  lil'e. — Psalm  xxx.  5. 

Oh,  for  grace  to  keep  this  always  in  view  !  for  then,  thou 
dear  Lord,  I  should  never  consider  my  dead  frames,  or  dead 
feelings,  since  I  well  know  that  thou  ever  bearest  favour  and 
good  will  towards  thy  people.  For  if  thy  providences  frown, 
or  seem  to  frown,  do  I  not  know  that  behind  that  aspect  thy 
countenance  is  the  same,  always  gracious,  always  favourable, 
and  that  thou  art  invariably  pursuing  the  everlasting  happi- 
ness of  thy  people  ?  Let  it  please  thee,  my  Lord,  to  grant 
me  this  morning  such  views  of  thy  favour,  that  I  may  hence- 
forth trace  it  in  every  thing.  Was  it  not  this  favour  that  first 
opened  a  source  of  salvation?  Was  it  not  this  favour  that 
brought  me  into  a  participation  of  it  ?  Was  it  not  this  favour 
that  begat  me  to  the  knowledge  of  it — that  quickened  me  to  an 
enjoyment  of  it — that  opened  the  communication  of  it,  by 
v/hich  thy  grace  became  imparted  to  my  soul  ?  And  was  it 
not  the  same  favour  that  kept  alive  the  incorruptible  spark, 
and  maintained  it  through  all  attempts  of  sin,  and  the  world, 
and  the  powers  of  darkness,  to  extinguish  it?  Nay,  blessed 
Jesus  !  what  is  it  now  but  thy  favour  that  secures  me  in  thy 
love,  and  gives  me  ail  the  inexpressible  felicity  of  mercy,  par- 
don, and  peace  now,  and  everlasting  glory  hereafter  ?  And 
is  not  thy  favour,  then,  better  than  life  ?  Is  it  not  more  pre- 
cious than  rubies?  Can  there  be  aught  desirable  like  it? 
Truly,  Lord,  in  thee  and  thy  favour  I  hav^e  life,  for  thou  art 
both  my  light  and  my  life :  my  heart  trusteth  in  thee,  and  I 
am  helped.  Remember  me  then,  oh  Lord,  with  the  favour 
that  thou  bearest  unto  thy  people  ;  oh  visit  me  with  thy  salva- 
tion! 


4. — Awake,  O  north  wind,  and  come,  thou  south,  blow  upon  my  g£ir- 
den. — Song  iv.  16. 

Are  these  the  words  of  my  Lord  ?  Yes,  surely,  they  can 
be  no  other  :  for  none  but  Jesus  can  send  the  Holy  Ghost  to 
his  church  and  people.  And,  beside,  none  can  call  the  church 
my  garden^  but  he  that  is  the  rightful  owner  of  it.  Surely, 
Lord,  it  is  thine,  both  by  thy  Father's  gift,  and  by  thy  choice, 


156  MORNING   PORTION. 

and  by  thy  purchase,  and  by  the  conquests  of  thy  grace,  and 
by  the  voluntary  surrender  of  thy  people,  when  thou  hast 
made  them  willing  in  the  day  of  thy  power.  And  dost  thou 
call,  then,  both  the  north  wind  and  the  south,  thou  dearest 
Lord,  to  blow  upon  my  soul?  Dost  thou  command  all  suited 
influences  of  thy  grace  to  visit  me,  that  one  may  search,  and 
another  warm,  my  affections,  and  call  thine  own  gifts  and 
graces  forth  in  exercise  upon  thy  glorious  Person,  and  thy 
glorious  work  ?  Oh,  come  then,  thou  Holy  Spirit,  with  all 
thy  sweet  and  precious  offices  !  Come,  Lord,  to  convince 
and  comfort  me,  to  humble  and  direct  me,  to  chill  my  affec- 
tions to  the  world,  and  to  warm  them  towards  the  Lord  Je- 
sus !  Come,  thou  holy,  gracious,  Almighty  Gluickener,  Re- 
viver, Restorer,  and  Glorifier  of  my  God  and  Saviour  !  Oh, 
if  thou  wilt  make  my  soul  like  the  chariots  of  Amminadib, 
and  cause  those  graces  thou  hast  planted  there  to  go  forth  in 
a  way  of  love,  and  desire,  and  faith,  and  expectation,  and 
hope,  upon  the  Person  and  glory  of  Him  whom  my  soul 
loveth,  then  shall  I  cry  out,  with  the  church,  and  say,  "  Let 
my  beloved  come  into  his  garden,  and  eat  of  his  pleasant 
fruits !" 

5. — Have  ye  received  the  Holy  Ghost  ? — Acts  xix.  2. 

My  soul,  ponder  over  the  solemn  question  again  and  again, 
and  then  see  what  answer  thou  canst  give  to  a  point  so  infi- 
nitely interesting  and  important.  The  Holy  Spirit  is  clearly 
known  by  the  exercise  of  his  blessed  offices  in  every  heart 
where  he  abides,  and  where  he  is  the  glorious  inhabitant. 
He  comes  in  Jesus'  name  as  an  Ambassador,  to  propose  to  the 
sinner  a  rich  and  precious  Saviour.  He  comes  as  an  Al- 
mighty Teacher ;  and  this  condescending  office  he  graciously 
exerciseth,  in  convincing  of  sin,  and  convincing  of  the  righ- 
teousness of  Jesus.  He  comes  as  an  Advocate  ;  and  by  his 
pleading  the  cause  of  a  poor  sinner's  own  necessities,  and 
the  cause  of  a  rich  Saviour's  willingness  and  ability  to  sup- 
ply all  these  necessities,  he  manifests  himself  a  most  power- 
ful advocate,  when,  by  his  constraining  grace,  he  makes  the 
poor  sinner  willing  in  the  day  of  his  power.  He  comes  as  an 
Enlightener  of  the  dark  and  untutored  mind  of  the  sinner, 
and  this  he  doth  most  efftctually,  when,  by  shining  in  the 
heart,  he  gives  the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of 
God  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ.  Most  gloriously  he  shines 
upon  the  soul,  when,  by  the  ministry  of  his  blessed  word, 


JUNE.  1 57 

and  by  the  influences  of  his  divine  grace,  he  leads  the  mind 
forth  to  the  contemplation  and  love  of  the  person,  blood,  and 
righteousness  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  He  comes  as  a  Wit- 
ncss.  also,  to  testify  of  Jesus.  And  this  sweet  office  is  mani- 
fested in  the  conscience,  when  at  any  time  he  shows  sin  to  be 
exceedingly  sinful ;  and  that  nothing  but  the  blood  of  Jesus 
can  cleanse  from  it.  And  his  witness  in  the  soul  is  proved  to 
the  fullest  demonstration,-  when  he  powerfully  brings  the 
guilty  conscience  under  so  deep  a  sense  of  sin,  and  so  alarm- 
ingly concerned  for  the  consequence  of  it,  that  nothing  will 
satisfy  until  Jesus  is  revealed  and  brought  home  to  the  heart, 
in  all  the  beauties  of  his  Person,  and  the  fulness  and  suitable- 
ness of  his  salvation,  and  formed  there  the  hope  of  glory. 
He  comes  also  as  a  Comforter  ;  and  oh  how  sweetly  and  fully 
doth  he  manifest  both  the  power  of  his  Godhead,  and  the 
sovereignty  and  grace  of  his  character,  when,  by  his  conso- 
lations, as  he  opens  and  explains  them,  and  makes  application 
of  them  as  they  are  in  Jesus,  he  revives  the  drooping  spirit, 
relieves  the  distressed  spirit,  animateth,  refresheth,  sanctifieth 
the  whole  heart,  and  soul,  and  mind,  and  gives  a  joy  and 
peace  in  believing,  abounding  in  hope  by  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  My  soul,  what  sayest  thou  now  to  the  ques- 
tion ?  Hast  thou  received  the  Holy  Ghost  ?  Surely  I  do 
know  thee,  thou  gracious  God  the  Spirit,  by  these  sweet  to- 
kens of  thy  covenant  office  and  character.  Lord,  I  pray  thee, 
be  ever  with  me,  and,  agreeably  to  Jesus'  gracious  promise, 
abide  with  me  for  ever.  Oh,  may  I  never  grieve  thee,  by 
whom  my  soul  is  sealed  in  Jesus  to  the  day  of  eternal  re- 
demption. 

6. — Blessed  be  the  Lord,  who  daily  loadeth  us  with  benefits. — Psalm 
Ixviii.  19. 

Behold,  my  soul,  what  a  sweet  portion  for  my  morning 
meditation  is  here.  See  what  thou  canst  gather  out  of  it,  to 
furnish  new  songs  of  praise  to  the  bountiful  Lord  whose 
mercies  it  records.  Blessed  Spirit !  I  beseech  thee  open  these 
precious  words  of  thine  to  my  view.  Blessed  be  the  Lord, 
it  saith.  Yea,  so  say  I!  Blessed  be  Jehovah.  Blessed  be 
the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  for  they  are  the  united 
source  of  all  my  blessings.  And  blessed  be  the  majesty  and 
glory  of  God  for  ever,  who  daily  loadeth  his  people  with 
benefits.  Count  over,  my  soul,  each  of  these  blessed  expres- 
sions, for  every  word  is  weighty  and  ponderous.     God  not 

14  " 


158  MORNING    PORTION. 

only  gives  blessings,  but  daily.  His  mercies  are  constant  as 
the  morning,  unceasing,  continual ;  strength  suited  to  the 
day,  and  mercies  adapted  to  every  moment.  Faith  needs  no 
hoards,  no  banking-houses :  nay,  it  is  faith's  precious  pro- 
perty, and  her  blessedness,  to  be  always  empty,  in  order  that 
the  sweetness  of  being  filled  by  Jesus  may  be  the  better 
known.  But  this  is  not  all.  God  not  only  daily  gives  out 
blessings,  but  loadeth  his  people  with  benefits.  He  openeth 
the  windows  of  heaven,  and  poureth  out  of  his  grace  in  such 
fulness,  that  there  is  not  room  to  receive.  He  makes  their 
souls  like  the  heart  of  Elihu,  as  it  is  said  of  him,  for  want 
of  vent,  like  new  bottles,  he  was  ready  to  burst.  So  Jesus 
poureth  out  his  love  into  the  souls  of  his  redeemed,  that  they 
are  overpowered  with  his  goodness.  Knowest  thou  not,  my 
soul,  somewhat  of  this  ?  Oh  yes  !  I  trust  I  do.  Why 
then,  blessed  be  God,  who  daily  loadeth  me  with  his  benefits. 
And  what  endears  all  this  in  a  ten  thousand  times  greater 
degree,  is  the  assurance  that  the  whole  is  in  a  way  of  salva- 
tion. So  saith  this  sweet  scripture.  He  that  loadeth  us  with 
benefits  is  the  God  of  our  salvation.  He  that  is  our  God, 
even  he  is  the  God  of  our  salvation.  Oh,  precious,  blessed 
consideration!  then  are  these  blessings  everlastingl}' secured  : 
for  He  that  now  daily  loadeth  us  with  benefits,  will  unwea- 
riedly  do  the  same  to  all  eternity.  He  is  not  only  the  portion 
of-  his  people  now,  but  will  be  so  for  ever.  He  not  only 
gives  strength  to  the  day,  but  will  be  himself  our  strength  to 
all  eternity.  And  mark  it  down,  my  soul,  as  the  most  blessed 
part  of  those  daily  benefits,  he  that  thus  loadeth  the  soul  with 
all  the  benefits  of  covenant  blessings,  in  the  grace,  mercy, 
favour,  love,  blood,  righteousness,  and  all  the  sweet  tokens 
of  redemption  in  Jesus,  signs  and  seals  every  one  of  them  in 
his  dear  name :  and  as  he  said  to  Abraham,  so  he  saith  to 
all  Abraham's  seed,  "  Fear  not,  I  am  thy  shield,  and  thine 
exceeding  great  reward."  Shout  then,  my  soul,  and  hence- 
forth let  this  be  thy  morning  song:  "Blessed  be  the  Lord, 
who  daily  loadeth  thee  with  benefits." 


7. — If  there  be  a  messenger  with  him,  an  Interpreter,  one  among  a 
thousand,  to  shew  unto  man  his  uprightness  ;  then  he  is  gracious 
unto  him,  and  saith,  DeUver  him  from  going  down  to  the  pit,  I  have 
found  a  ramsom. — Job  xxxiii.  23,  24. 

My  soul,  how  precious  are  those  views  in  looking  back 
upon  where  the  first  discoveries  of  grace  were  made.    Mose? 


JUNE.  159 

^ever  forgot  the  first  visions  of  God  at  the  bush ;  neither  did 
Jacob  outlive  the  remembrance  of  the  first  Bethel  visit  of  a 
God  in  Christ  to  his  soul ;  and  why  should  I  ?  Hast  thou 
not  known  this  Messenger,  this  Interpreter,  one  among  a 
thousand  to  show  unto  thee  God's  uprightness?  Oh,  yes ! 
Jesus,  by  his  Spirit,  hath  shown  to  me  that  my  God  is 
righteous  in  all  his  ways,  and  holy  in  his  works.  When  by 
the  blessed  discoveries  which  have  been  made  to  me  in  his 
word,  by  his  ordinances,  providences,  judgments,  mercies, 
like  the  poor  creature  described  in  this  sweet  scripture,  when 
reduced  to  a  mere  skeleton,  by  reason  of  soul-sickness,  driven 
out  of  all  resources  in  myself,  and  utterly  despairing  of  ever 
seeing  the  face  of  God  in  glory,  bj'-  any  creature  attempts, 
and  by  all  creature  righteousness :  oh,  then  it  was,  thou 
blessed,  glorious  Messenger  of  thine  own  covenant,  thou 
faithful  Interpreter  of  the  mind  and  will  of  Jehovah,  then  it 
was  I  was  led  to  see  the  freeness,  fulness,  suitableness,  and 
all-sufficiency  of  a  Redeemer's  righteousness,  and  to  cast  my 
poor,  defenceless,  naked,  trembling  soul,  upon  the  rich, 
powerful,  and  altogether-sufficient  salvation  of  thee,  my  God 
and  Saviour!  Oh!  how  hast  thou  sweetly  and  mercifully 
explained  to  me  the  secrets  of  covenant  mercies,  the  glories 
of  thy  person,  and  the  greatness  of  thy  finished  work.  And 
now  at  every  step  I  take,  at  every  portion  of  thy  blessed  word 
I  read,  when  my  mind  feels  the  remains  of  indv.-elling  cor- 
ruption, and  all  the  lurkings  of  the  enemy's  suggestions 
within  :  then,  then  it  is  I  hear  the  Father's  gracious  voice : 
-'  Deliver  him  from  going  down  to  the  pit,  I  have  found  a 
ransom."  Yes.  precious  Jesus,  thou  art  my  ransom,  and  my 
righteousness  for  ever  ! 


8. — A  red  heifer  without  spot,  wherein  is  no  blemish,  and  upon  which 
never  came  yoke.  And  ye  shall  give  her  unto  Eleazar  the  priest, 
that  he  may  brinor  her  forth  without  the  camp,  and  one  shall  slay 
her  before  his  face. — Numbers  xix.  2,  3. 

I  p.E:krE:^iBEPc  well  it  is  said  of  our  Lord  Jesus,  that,  in  order 
to  sanctify  the  people  with  his  own  blood,  he  suffered  without 
the  gate. "  But  though  I  clearly  apprehend  that  the  law,  with 
all  its  sacrifices,  was  but  a  shadow  of  good  things  to  come, 
and  the  body  was  Christ,  yet,  had  not  the  Holy  Ghost  been 
graciously  pleased  to  illustrate  and  explain  by  other  Scriptures, 
somewhat  either  direct,  or  by  allusion,  in  reference  to  Jesus, 
I  should  have  overlooked  how,  in  many  striking  points,  Jesus 


160  MORNING    PORTION. 

is  here  set  forth  in  this  type.  Surely,  Lord,  thy  spotless* 
purity  was  beautifully  represented  in  the  spotless  heifer,  here 
appointed  for  sacrifice.  And  the  very  rare  colour  of  a  red 
heifer,  plainly  testified  the  singularity  of  thy  sacrifice.  Adam 
himself  was  so  called,  as  a  token  of  the  red  earth  from 
whence  he  was  taken.  And  when  Jesus,  as  the  Son  of  man, 
came,  to  do  away  all  the  effects  of  Adam's  sin  and  transgres- 
sion, he  manifested,  by  the  redness  of  his  apparel,  and  the 
blood  sprinkled  upon  his  garments,  the  gracious  purposes 
which  all  implied.  But  I  do  not  recollect,  in  any  other  type 
of  my  Redeemer,  a  particularity  which  pointed  to  the  freeness 
of  thy  voluntary  sacrifice,  oh,  thou  Lamb  of  God !  as  the 
one  here  represented,  in  that  this  heifer  was  to  be  one  upon 
which  had  never  come  yoke.  Nothing,  Lord,  but  thine  own 
free  sovereign  love,  and  at  the  call  of  God  thy  Father, 
prompted  thine  infinite  mind  to  be  the  willing  sacrifice  for 
poor  sinners.  There  was  no  yoke,  no  obligation,  nothing  to 
compel  thee.  Lo,  I  come,  was  thy  gracious  voice,  when 
neither  sacrifice  nor  offering  could  ransom  thy  people.  Oh, 
Lord !  let  the  sense  of  thy  freeness  in  salvation  comfort  my 
soul  under  all  heart-straitenings  in  myself,  and  the  concious- 
ness  that  there  was  no  yoke  upon  thee,  Lord,  but  thine  own 
everlasting  love,  be  the  sweet  constraining  yoke  on  my  soul, 
to  bind  me  to  thy  love,  and  to  thy  service  for  ever. 

9. — I  would  cause  thee  to  drink  of  spiced  wine  of  tlie  juice  of  my  pome- 
granate.— Song  viii.  2. 

What,  my  soul,  hast  thou  aught  to  offer  to  thy  Jesus  ? 
Will  he  accept  a  present  at  thine  hand  ?  Yes,  Jesus  will 
accept  those  goings  forth  of  his  own  grace,  his  own  gift,  in 
the  exercises  of  faith,  and  love,  and  joy,  and  praise ;  when, 
by  his  own  sweet  and  reviving  communications,  he  hath 
called  to  the  north  wind,  and  lo  the  south  wind,  to  blow  a 
gracious  gale  upon  my  soul,  and  causeth  the  very  graces  he 
himself  hath  planted  in  my  heart  to  send  forth  all  their 
powers  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  Person  and  righteousness. 
And  do  not  forget,  my  soul,  for  thine  encouragement  to  this 
lovely  and  becoming  frame,  these  will  be  more  grateful  to 
thy  God  and  Saviour  than  all  whole  burnt  offerings  and 
sacrifices.  These  will  be  indeed  like  spiced  wine,  and  the 
juice  of  the  pomegranate,  when  those  tears  of  faith,  and  love, 
and  repentance,  drop  at  the  mercy-seat,  in  the  contemplation 
of  that  love  of  Jesus,  which  is  better  than  wine.     Help  me 


JUiNE.  161 

then,  thou  dear  Lord,  thus  to  come  to  thee.  Help  me,  as  the 
poor  woman  at  thy  feet  did,  to  shed  my  tears,  and  to  offer  thee 
this  spiced  wine:  and  no  longer  by  sin,  and  unbelief,  and 
rebellion,  to  give  thee  wine  mingled  with  myrrh,  as  the  Jews 
did  at  thy  crucifixion.  Oh  God,  my  Saviour  !  let  it  never  be 
said  of  my  soul,  from  neglect  and  indifferency  to  thee  and 
thy  sufferings,  as  thou  complainedst  of  them,  ""They  gave 
me  also  gall  for  my  meat,  and  in  my  thirst  they  gave  me 
vinegar  to  drink."'  No,  precious  Lord  !  if  thou  wilt  shed 
abroad  the  influences  of  thy  Spirit  in  my  heart,  so  as  to  lead 
out  my  whole  soul  in  love  to  thee,  in  living  upon  thee,  in 
contemplating  thy  glory,  thy  suitableness,  thine  all-sufficiency, 
then  will  my  soul  praise  thee  with  joyful  lips :  and  then  will 
my  beloved  say,  as  to  his  church  of  old,  "  Thy  lips,  O  my 
spouse,  drop  as  the  honey-comb ;  honey  and  milk  are  under 
thy  tongue." 

10. — My  voice  shall  thou  hear  in  the  morning,  O  Lord  ;  in  the  morning 
will  1  direct  my  prayer  unto  thee,  and  will  look  up. — Psahn  v.  3. 

Sweet  thought,  my  soul,  to  encourage  thee  this  morning, 
that  thy  God  in  Christ  is  a  praj'-er-quickening,  a  prayer- 
hearing,  and  a  prayer-answering  God.  Art  thou  dull,  dead, 
lifeless?  one  look  from  Jesus,  one  influence  of  the  Spirit, 
will  kindle  desire,  and  lead  thee  to  the  mercy-seat,  and  to  the 
throne  of  grace.  Jesus  will  do  more  in  one  moment,  to  call 
off  thy  wandering  thoughts,  to  open  to  thy  views  his  glory, 
to  reveal  to  thee  what  thy  wants  are,  and  to  give  thee  a  spirit 
of  prayer  suited  to  thy  wants  and  his  praise,  than  all  thy 
laboured  attempts,  without  an  eye  to  Jesus,  can  do  for  thee 
for  ever.  Whence  is  it,  my  soul,  that  prayer  is  ever  a  burden, 
but  because  we  have  lost  a  sight  of  Jesus  ?  Why  is  it  that 
thou  art  at  times  so  little  affected  with  the  remains  of  indwel- 
ling corruption,  and  canst  neither  rightly  value  God's  mercies, 
or  be  humbled  under  thy  own  infirmities?  Is  it  not  because 
thou  dost  not  look  up,  and  behold  Jesus  in  his  priestly  vesture, 
waiting  to  be  gracious?  Oh,  didst  thou  but  eye  thy  God  and 
Saviour  under  this  blessed  character,  how  wouldst  thou  feel 
the  preciousness  of  his  great  salvation,  and  haste  to  unload 
thyself  upon  the  Lord  Christ,  and  cast  all  thy  burden  of 
coldness,  deadness,  and  sin,  upon  Him  who  is  mighty  to 
save!  Come,  Lord,  then,  I  pray  thee,  with  all  thy  sweet 
influences,  fill  my  mouth  with  arguments,  and  my  heart  do 
thou  warm  with  love.     I  know,  Lord,  I  shall  surely  speed 

14* 


162  MORNING    PORTION. 

this  day,  this  morning-,  at  the  mercy-seat,  the  moment  thou 
hast  loosed  my  tongue,  and  enlarged  my  heart  with  thy 
grace.  Yes,  yes,  blessed  Jesus,  my  voice  shalt  thou  hear, 
my  voice  wilt  thou  hear  in  the  morning  ;  at  the  dawn  of  day, 
before  cock-crowing,  I  will  direct  my  prayers  to  thee,  I  will 
send  them  up  to  heaven ;  and  through  the  day,  and  all  the 
day,  and  seven  times  a  day,  will  I  praise  thee,  oh  thou  God 
of  my  salvation,  when  thou  hast  caused  me  to  praise  thee 
Avith  joyful  lips. 

]  1. — And  my  people  shall  be  satisfied  with  my  goodness,  saith  the  Lord. 
Jeremiah  xxxi.  14. 

Examine  thine  heart,  rny  soul,  this  morning,  and  see 
whether  this  blessed  promise  is  really  and  truly  fulfilled  in 
thy  experience.  Art  thou  satisfied  with  Jehovah's  goodness  ? 
Yes,  if  so  be  thou  hast  received  that  goodness  as  manifested 
and  treasured  up  in  the  peiyon-and  work  of  Christ,  and  art 
so  believing  as  to  be  living  wholly  upon  it.  This  is  the 
grand  thing  to  do :  and  when  it  comes  to  be  strictly  inquired 
into,  few,  very  few,  are  living  so  wholly  upon  it,  and  so  com- 
pletely satisfied  with  it,  as  to  be  seeking  for  no  additional 
satisfaction  elsewhere.  Now,  my  soul,  as  there  are  but  few 
that  are  so  fully  satisfied  w'ith  the  Lord's  goodness  in  every 
thing  that  concerns  salvation,  both  in  providence  and  grace, 
let  thy  morning  thoughts  be  directed  to  see  whether  thou  art 
one  of  that  happy  few.  I  will,  for  the  sake  of  shortening  the 
inquiry,  take  up  the  subject  from  this  ground ;  that  thou  art 
satisfied  thou  hast  an  interest  in  Jesus.  Thou  hast  a  long 
time  since  been  driven  by  thy  necessities  to  Christ  as  a  com- 
plete Saviour  :  and  thou  art  resting  all  thy  hopes,  joys,  and 
expectations,  upon  his  blood  and  righteousness.  I  will  con- 
sider this  point  as  fairly  and  fully  determined.  Why  then, 
perhaps,  my  soul,  thou  wilt  say,  Is  not  this  to  be  satisfied 
with  Jehovah's  goodness  ?  Alas  !  here  is  the  great  defect  of 
God's  people  !  Though  resting  on  this  foundation,  how  often 
may  they  find  their  hearts  exercised  with  endless  perplexities 
how  this  grace  is  to  be  improved,  or  how  that  gift  is  to  be 
employed.  And  according  as  it  appears  to  their  view  they 
have  improved  the  one,  or  employed  the  other,  their  peace 
and  comfort  is  proportioned.  My  soul !  do  you  not  see  that 
this  is  self-satisfaction,  and  not  being  satisfied  with  God's 
goodness?  This  is  setting  up  the  comforts  of  Jesus'  grace 
and  Jesus'  gifts  above  the  glorious  Author  of  those  gifts  and 


JUNE.  163 

graces.  To  be  really  satisfied  with  God's  goodness,' implies 
living  upon  that  goodness,  and  that  is  Christ  himself.  Living 
upon  Jesus,  acting  faith  upon  Jesus,  perceiving  all  our  fresh 
springs  to  be  in  Jesus,  and  therefore  drawing  all  from  him. 
And,  my  soul,  if  thou  art  thus  satisfied  with  God's  goodness, 
thou  wilt  find  it  is  injurious  to  the  comfort  and  blessedness  of 
this  life  of  faith  to  be  ever  looking  off  Jesus  to  any  thing  his 
grace  and  goodness  worketh  in  thee,  lest  in  the  view  of  the 
work  itself,  be  it  what  it  may,  the  source  of  that  work  is  over- 
looked, and  self-satisfaction,  instead  of  Christ  exalting,  should 
creep  into  thy  soul.  In  every  act,  my  soul,  see  to  it  then  that 
all  thy  satisfaction  is  in  Jesus,  as  the  goodness  of  Jehovah, 
Lord,  fulfil  this  sweet  promise,  and  make  me  satisfied  with 
thy  goodness ! 

12. — And  confessed  that  they  were  strangers  and  pilgrims  on  the  earth, — 
Heh.  xi.  13. 

My  soul !  hast  thou  also  witnessed  this  confession  before 
many  witnesses?  See  whether  thou  hast  the  same  evidences 
they  had.  In  the  first  place,  they  were  led  to  see  that  here 
they  had  no  continuing  city.  Sin,  sorrow,  sickness,  death, 
inhabited  this  region.  Every  thing  said  to  them  in  that  sweet 
voice  of  God,  Arise  ye.  and  depart,  for  this  is  not  your  rest, 
because  it  is  polluted.  What  sayest  thou,  my  soul,  to  this 
first  view  of  the  subject  ?  Look  at  it  under  another.  Hast 
thou  learnt,  and  so  learnt  as  to  prize  it,  the  blessedness  of  that 
promise.  There  is  a  rest  that  remaineth  for  the  people  of 
God  %  What  sayest  thou  to  this  also,  my  soul  ?  Dost  thou 
see  that  Jesus  is  that  nest ;  and  he  is  the  object  of  thy  desire 
in  rest  ?  For  the  prophet  saith.  He  is  the  rest  wherewith  he 
will  cause  the  weary  to  rest,  and  he  is  their  refreshing.  Isa. 
xxviii.  12.  Hast  thou  heard,  and  welcomed  his  invitation, 
"  Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  labour  and  are  heavy  laden,  and 
I  will  give  you  rest?"  Go  one  step  further  in  the  inquiry. 
Under  these  convictions  of  soul,  art  thou  travelling  the  hea- 
venly road,  asking  the  way  to  Zion  with  thy  face  thitherward, 
as  a  stranger  and  pilgrim  upon  earth  ?  Go  further  yet.  Art 
thou  guided  as  Israel  was  in  the  way,  by  the  pillar  of  cloud 
by  day,  and  guarded  by  the  pillar  of  fire  by  night  ?  Art 
thou  coming  up  out  of  the  wilderness  of  this  worJd,  leaning 
upon  Jesus?  Advance  yet  further  in  the  inquiry.  While 
the  Holy  Ghost  as  the  pillar  of  cloud  is  going  before  thee, 
and  thou  art  resting  upon  Jesus  as  thy  staff  and  stay,  knowest 


164  MORNING   PORTION, 

thou  God  for  thy  father,  his  word  thy  guide,  his  promises  thy 
treasure,  his  ordinances  thine  inns,  not  to  dwell  in,  but  like 
the  way-faring  man  to  tarry  but  for  the  night?  And  dost 
thou  draw  water  with  joy  out  of  those  wells  of  salvation  1 
Pause,  my  soul,  as  thou  seekest  answers  to  these  questions. 
Knowest  thou  the  difficulties  of  a  wilderness  dispensation  ; 
and  the  sweets  of  those  streams  from  that  river  which  make 
glad  the  city  of  God  ?  Art  thou  like  other  travellers,  some- 
times enjoying  fine  weather,  when  Jesus'  face,  his  love,  his 
mercy,  are  all  in  view  ;  and  sometimes  walking  in  darkness, 
w^hen  storms  of  sin  and  Satan  throw  clouds  over  the  gracious 
prospect?  More  especially,  art  thou  the  scorn  and  derision 
of  the  carnal  ?  Do  they  make  thee  their  subject  of  laughter, 
and  art  thou  the  drunkard's  song  ?  And  lastly,  to  mention 
no  more,  knowest  thou,  my  soul,  what  it  is  sometimes  to  be 
discouraged  by  reason  of  the  way,  while  Satan  would  prompt 
thee  to  go  back  ;  but  sweetly  constrained  by  Jesus'slove,  thou 
art  still  the  patient  follower  of  them,  who  through  faith  and 
patience  inherit  the  promises?  Hast  thou,  my  soul,  these 
precious  marks  of  the  stranger  and  pilgrim  upon  earth  ? 
Oh !  then,  remember  what  is  said  of  them  to  whom  the  Holy 
Ghost  bears  testimony,  and  by  thy  covenant  interest  in  Jesus 
behold  thy  vast  privilege  in  the  same  blessed  promise,  God 
is  not  ashamed  to  be  called  their  God,  for  he  hath  prepared 
for  them  a  city. 

13. — The  Master  is  come,  and  calleth  for  thee. — John  xi.  28. 

My  soul,  mark  how  gracious  the  Lord  is  to  his  people  in 
the  special  and  distinguishing  tokens  of  his  grace.  Jesus 
doth  not  barely  send  his  gospel  to  the  church,  or  house,  or 
family,  but  he  speaketh  by  the  soft,  but  powerful,  whispers 
of  his  love,  to  the  individual  soul.  To  thee  is  the  word  of 
this  salvation  sent.  Hence  the  soul  who  feels  the  sove- 
reignty of  his  words  in  the  constraining  influence  with 
which  it  is  accompanied,  cries  out,  I  shall  never  forget  thy 
word,  for  by  it  thou  hast  quickened  me.  But  beside  the  calls  of 
his  grace  in  his  house  of  prayer,  in  how  many  ways,  and  by 
what  a  variety  of  methods,  is  the  Lord  Jesus  calling  upon  his 
people.  My  soul !  I  hope  that  thou  art  always  upon  the 
look  out,  and  art  getting  to  thy  watch  tower,  to  hear  what  the 
Lord  thy  God  hath  to  say  to  thee,  by  his  word,  by  his  provi- 
dences, in  chastisement,  in  love,  and  in  all  the  gracious  man- 
ifestations of  his  favour.     Behold,  he  saith.  I  stand  at  the  door 


JT*NE.  165 

and  knock.  So  Jesus  calleth,  and  so  let  my  soul  hear.  Now 
Lord !  thou  art  calling  me  by  thy  word  and  providence  in  a 
Avay  of  grace ;  by  and  by  I  shall  hear  thy  voice  in  the  hour 
of  death  and  judgment.  And  who  shall  say  how  very 
powerful,  sweet,  and  gracious,  that  call  is,  when  Jesus 
cometh  to  take  his  people  home  to  himself,  that  where  he 
is,  there  they  may  be  also.  '■  I  hear  my  Master's  voice,"  said 
an  highly  favoured  servant  of  God  in  the  moment  of  his  de- 
parture. Perhaps  a  loud  voice,  a  glorious  distinguishable 
voice  to  him  that  is  called,  when  no  stander-by  is  at  all  con- 
scious of  the  sound.  Hence  another  said,  when  he  was  dy- 
ing, "  I  shall  change  my  place,  but  not  my  company."  Je- 
sus !  Master !  in  that  hour  be  it  my  happiness  to  say.  Let 
me  hear  thy  voice,  let  me  see  thy  countenance  :  for  sweet  is 
thy  voice,  and  thy  countenance  is  comely. 


14. — Who  is  this  that  cometh  up  from  the  wilderness,  leaning  upon  her 
beloved  ? — Song  viii.  5. 

Who  is  it  that  asketh  this  question,  my  soul  ?  Is  it  the 
holy  angels,  astonished,  as  well  they  may,  at  the  gracious 
condescension  of  thy  Jesus  in  the  grace  and  favour  he  hath 
bestowed  upon  thee  ?  Or  is  it  the  world  at  large,  looking  on 
with  amazement  at  the  love  of  Jesus  to  his  chosen  ?  Is  it  the 
Jewish  church,  amazed  that  Gentiles  should  be  fellow-heirs, 
and  of  the  same  body,  and  partakers  of  God's  promise  in 
Christ?  Or  above  all,  is  it  Jesus  himself,  not  because  he 
knoweth  not  the  grace  he  hath  bestowed,  but  because  he  ad- 
mireth  the  grace  he  hath  given ;  and  as  he  did  the  Centu- 
rion's faith,  which  he  himself  was  the  author  of,  he  looketh 
upon  it  with  pleasure?  And  art  thou,  my  soul,  come  up 
from  the  wilderness  of  nature,  a  dry,  barren  land,  where  no 
water  of  Life  is :  from  the  wilderness  of  the  world,  and  from 
all  the  unsatisfying  and  empty  pursuits  of  it?  Art  thou 
leaning  upon  thy  Jesus,  cleaving  to  him,  hanging  upon  him, 
strengthening  thyself  upon  him,  determining,  like  another 
Ruth  concerning  Naomi,  vdiere  Jesus  goeth  thou  wilt  go, 
and  where  he  lodgeth  thou  wilt  lodge?  Is  this  thy  con- 
duct ;  and  dost  thou  rest  the  whole  stress  of  thy  present  and 
everlasting  happiness  upon  his  glorious  person  and  righ- 
teousness ?  if  so,  angels  may  well  look  on,  and  cry  out. 
Who  is  this  to  whom  the  Father  of  all  mercies  hath  been  so 
gracious  ;  to  whom  Jesus  hath  manifested  his  love  otherwise 
than  he  doth  to  the  world ;  and  on  whom  the  Spirit  hath 


166  MORNING   PORTION. 

shed  his  blessed  influence  to  make  thee  willing-  in  the  day 
of  his  powet.?  Yes !  precious  Jesus !  I  would  come  up 
from  every  thing  near  and  dear  in  this  wilderness  state,  for- 
get mine  own  people,  and  my  father's  house  ;  I  would  lean 
wholly  upon  thy  glorious  Person,  for  my  acceptance  before 
God  ;  lean  wholly  upon  thy  righteousness,  as  all-sufficient 
for  my  justification ;  I  would  lean  upon  thy  fulness,  day  by 
day,  for  the  supply  of  all  grace  here  ;  and  I  would  lean  solely 
upon  the  divine  efficacy  and  blessedness  of  thy  blood,  to 
cleanse  my  soul  for  everlasting  fitness  for  happiness  hereaf- 
ter. Witness  for  me,  ye  angels  of  light,  that  this  is  my  be- 
loved, on  whom  I  lean  and  in  whom  I  trust,  and  desire  to  be 
found,  for  time  and  for  eternity.     Amen. 

15. — Now  we,  brethren,  as  Isaac  was,  are  the  children  of  promise. — 
Gal.  iv.  28. 

Mark,  my  soul,  the  distinguishing  characters  of  those  who 
are  the  children  of  promise,  and  see  whether  thou  art  of  this 
blessed  family.  For  as  the  law  and  the  gospel  are  strikingly 
distinguished  from  each  other,  so  are  the  children  of  nature 
from  those  of  grace.  And  how  is  this  to  be  known  1  Look 
at  the  case  Paul  hath  referred  to  :  Isaac  was  the  son  of  Abra- 
ham. And  the  Apostle  saith  that  they  which  are  of  faith,  the 
same  are  children  of  Abraham.  And  if  ye  be  Christ's,  then  are 
ye  Abraham's  seed,  and  heirs  according  to  the  promise.  And 
as  Isaac  was  a  child  of  Abraham  by  promise,  not  by  natural 
power,  so  believers  in  Jesus  are  born,  not  of  blood,  nor  of  the 
will  of  the  flesh,  nor  of  the  will  of  man,  but  of  God.  Hence 
Paul  saith,  to  Abraham  and  his  seed  were  the  promises 
made.  He  saith  not  to  seeds,  as  of  many,  but  as  of  one  ;  and 
to  thy  seed,  which  is  Christ.  Precious  truth  !  The  children  of 
promise  are  of  Jesus  ;  for  he  himself  is  the  one  great  promise  of 
the  Bible.  So  that  from  everlasting  they  are  the  seed  of  Christ: 
their  beinsf,  their  well-being  their  everlasting  being,  are  all 
folded  up  in  Jesus,  as  the  oak  in  all  its  foliage  is  contained  and 
folded  up  in  the  first  and  original  acorn.  Hence  they  are 
spiritually  begotten,  born,  nourished,  fed,  sustained,  led, 
strengthened  and  carried  on,  through  all  the  gradations  of 
grace,  until  grace  is  consummated  in  the  ripeness  of  their 
full  stature  in  glory.  My  soul!  art  thou  as  Isaac  was,  a  child 
of  promise  ?  Oh  !  live  by  faith  on  Jesus,  and  in  Jesus,  and 
see  to  it,  in  all  thy  daily,  hourly  exercises  and  experiences, 


JUNE.  167 

that  all  the  promises  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus  are  Yea,  and 
Amen,  unto  the  glory  of  God  the  Father. 

16. — He  shall  gather  the  lambs  with  his  arm,  and  carry  them  in  his 
bosom. — Isaiah  xl.  11. 

My  soul !  mark  in  this  sweet  scripture,  how  Jesus  is  de- 
scribed, in  not  only  attending  to  all  the  various  wants  of  his 
fold,  but  to  the  very  method  of  imparting  to  their  several 
wants  in  a  way  corresponding  to  his  own  character  and  their 
state.  In  the  fold  of  Jesus,  like  the  sheep-folds  among  men, 
some  are  sheep  and  some  are  lambs ;  some  of  advanced  age 
and  some  of  younger  standing.  Well !  where  will  Jesus 
put  the  lambs  and  the  weaklings  of  his  fold  ?  Certainly,  if 
there  be  one  place  in  the  heart  of  Jesus  softer  and  more  ten- 
der than  another,  there  the  lambs  shall  lie.  And  as  Jesus 
himself  lay  in  the  bosom  of  his  Father,  so  the  lambs  of  his 
flock  shall  lie  in  his  bosom.  Sweet  thought  to  encourage 
thee,  my  soul,  and  all  the  followers  of  Christ !  Jesus  will 
not  thrust  out  the  lambs  into  the  dangers  of  the  wilderness, 
where  the  prowling  beasts  of  prey  are,  nor  expose  them  to 
over-driving,  or  the  speed  Avith  which  the  more  mature  sheep 
can  travel.  But  he  will  proportion  their  burden  to  their 
back,  and  their  day  to  their  strength.  And  besides  this,  he 
will  keep  them  nearer  to  himself:  his  arms  shall  clasp  them; 
the  warmth  of  his  bosom  shall  nourish  them ;  if  they  cannot 
walk,  they  shall  be  carried ;  and  when  they  cannot  find  their 
way,  they  shall  be  led.  Oh  !  thou  great  shepherd  of  thy 
sheep !  is  it  thus  thou  sweetly  dealest  with  thy  little  ones  1 
Hence  I  see  then  explained,  why  it  is  that  young  believers, 
in  the  first  season  of  their  knowledge  of  thee,  find  so  many 
blessed  refreshings,  which  they  afterwards  do  not  so  sensi- 
bly enjoy.  Yes.  Lord,  it  is  thus  thou  gatherest  the  lambs 
and  carriest  them  in  thy  bosom.  And  sweetly  and  sea- 
sonably dost  thou  do  all  this,  and  in  a  way  which  fully 
proves  thy  love  and  compassion  to  the  necessities  of  thy 
flock. 


17. — He  restoreth  my  soul. — Psalm  xxiii.  3. 

Yes,  Lord  !  it  is  indeed  thou  that  bringest  back  the  strayed 
sheep  ;  for  as  no  man  ever  quickened,  so  none  can  keep  alive, 
his  own  soul.  It  was  indeed  thy  promise,  and  most  gra- 
ciously doest  thou  fulfil  it, — "  As  a  shepherd  seeketh  out  his 


168  MORNING    PORTION. 

flock  in  the  day  that  he  is  among  his  sheep,  so  will  I  seek 
out  my  sheep,  and  bring-  again  that  which  was  driven  away." 
Ezek.  xxxiv.  11,  16.  My  soul !  mark  this  trait  of  character 
in  thy  Jesus  for  thy  morning  meditation.  It  is  well  for  thee 
that  restoring  work,  reclaiming  work,  reviving  work,  all  is 
with  Jesus ;  begins  in  him,  and  is  carried  on  and  completed 
by  him,  and  through  his  grace  in  thee.  And  it  is  well  for 
thee,  my  soul,  that  though  thou  so  often  ftulest  in  all  things 
towards  thy  Jesus,  yet  he  never  faileth  in  his  love  to  thee  in 
any  thing.  Sweet  consideration  !  his  love,  and  not  thy  de- 
serts, becomes  the  standard  for  all  his  tenderness  to  his  peo-*^ 
pie.  And  mark  it  down,  my  soul,  in  strong  characters,  that 
Jesus'  grace  is  much  shown  thy  way:  he  doth  not  wait  our 
return,  for  then  we  should  never  return  at  all ;  neither  doth 
he  wait  our  cry  for  help,  but  he  puts  that  cry  into  his  soul. 
Alas!  how  often  have  we  wandered  and  gone  away,  even 
before  that  we  were  sensible  of  our  departure.  How  blessed 
is  it  then  to  see  and  know  that  Jesus'  eye  is  upon  us,  and 
that  before  we  return  to  him,  he  is  coming  forth  to  us.  His 
love,  his  pity,  his  compassion,  are  the  security  of  his  people's 
recovery.  Yes,  Lord !  it  is  thou  that  restorest  my  soul. 
Praise  to  thy  name,  for  thou  doest  it  all  in  such  a  way  as 
proves  it  to  be  for  thy  great  name's  sake,  that  thy  grace  comes 
freely  and  without  upbraiding.  "  He  restoreth  my  soul,  and 
leadeth  me  in  the  paths  of  righteousness  for  his  name's  sake." 

18. — To  Him  whom  man  despiseth  ;  to  Him  whom  the  nation  abhor- 
reth. — Isaiah  xlix.  7. 

My  soul !  let  thy  longing  eyes  be  directed  to  Him  this  day 
whom  man  despiseth,  and  whom  God  honoureth,  and  to 
whom  he  hath  given  a  name  above  every  name.  Pause  !  in 
the  contemplation^ of  the  wonderful  mystery.  Was  Jesus 
indeed  despised,  and  by  the  very  creature  he  came  to  redeem? 
Did  angels  hail  his  wonderful  incarnation,  and  man  despise, 
hate,  and  abhor  him !  Be  astonished,  Oh  ye  heavens  !  and 
wonder,  Oh  earth!  But,  my  soul,  go  further  in  the  contem- 
plation of  this  mysterious  subject.  What  man,  what  indi- 
vidual man,  was  it,  that  could  thus  requite  the  unparalleled  love  ***' 
of  Jesus  ?  Alas  !  not  an  individual  only,  but  a  whole  nation ; 
nay,  the  whole  nature,  both  Jew  and  Gentile,  abhorred  him ; 
for  while  in  a  state  of  unrenewed  nature,  to  the  one  he  is  a 
stumbling-block,  and  to  the  other  his  cross  is  foohshness.  Ah  I 
is  it  so,  my  soul  ?     Why  then  it  follows  that  thou,  even  thou, 


JUNE.  169 

my  soul,  wert  once  in  the  same  state  of  hatred,  and  wert  by 
nature,  as  well  as  others,  a  child  of  wrath,  despising  this  wis- 
dom of  God  in  Christ  for  the  salvation  of  sinners.  And  art 
thou  then,  my  soul,  recovered  by  almighty  sovereign  grace 
from  this  deadly  hatred  of  nature,  and  dost  thou  look  this  day 
with  love,  with  joy,  with  rapture,  and  unspeakable  delight,  to 
Him  whom  man  despiseth,  to  Him  whom  the  nation  abhor- 
reth  ?  Is  Jesus  indeed  lovely,  the  altogether  lovely,  to  thy 
view?  Is  he  precious,  nay,  infinitely  more  precious  than  the 
golden  wedge  of  Ophir  ?  Yes,  thou  holy  One  of  God,  thou 
art  the  all  in  all  to  my  soul.  Witness  for  me,  Oh  ye  saints ! 
that  are  now  around  his  throne,  that  I  have  none  in  heaven 
or  in  earth  that  I  desire  beside  him.  My  whole  soul  desires 
to  know  him,  to  follow  hard  after  him,  to  trust  in  him,  to 
cleave  to  him,  to  hang  upon  him,  and  to  accept  and  receive 
him  ;  and  to  make  use  of  him  as  the  wisdom  of  God,  and  the 
power  of  God,  for  salvation  to  my  soul,  as  he  is  to  every  one 
that  believeth.  Oh  !  ye  sons  of  men,  who  are  still  in  the  un- 
renewed hatred  of  your  heart,  in  your  hatred  against  the 
precious  Christ  of  God,  what  will  ye  do  when  He  whom  ye 
now  despise  shall  come  to  your  everlasting  shame  !  Well 
might  the  apostle  echo  the  words  of  the  prophet,  for  from  age 
to  age  the  astonishing  truth  remaineth :  "  Behold,  ye  despisers, 
and  wonder,  and  perish ;  for  I  work  a  work  in  your  days,  a 
work  which  ye  shall  in  no  wise  believe,  though  a  man  de- 
clare it  unto  you  !" 

19. — Go  thy  way,  eat  thy  bread  with  joy,  and  drink  thy  wine  with  a 
merry  heart ;  for  God  now  accepteth  thy  works. — Eccles.  ix.  7.     • 

My  soul !  here  is  a  sweet  subject  for  thy  morning  thoughts. 
Art  thou  accepted  in  the  Beloved?  Hast  thou  accepted  Jesus, 
and  God  accepted  thee  in  Jesus  ?  Well  mayest  thou  then  eat 
of  the  bread  of  common  providences,  and  drink  of  the  sweet 
of  all  sanctified  mercies,  for  every  thing  is  blessed  in  Jesus, 
and  Jesus  is  blessing  thee  in  every  thing.  Surely  an  ac- 
cepted soul  is  a  blessed  soul,  for  he  is  blessed  in  his  basket 
and  in  his  store :  blessed  in  his  lying  down,  and  blessed  in 
his  rising  up  ;  blessed  in  his  going  out,  and  blessed  in  his 
coming  home ;  yea,  blessed  in  time,  and  blessed  to  all  eter- 
nity. Yes,  thou  blessed  source  of  all  my  blessedness!  thou 
precious  Jesus!  I  will  go  my  way,  for  thou  art  my  way  ;  I 
will  eat  my  bread  with  joy,  for  thou  art  my  bread  of  life ;  I 
will  drink  the  wine  which  thou  hast  mingled  for  me,  for  thy 

15 


170  MORNING    PORTION. 

love  is  better  than  wine.  And  as  God  my  Father  accepted 
me  in  thee,  this  forms  an  everlasting  cause  of  everlasting  joy ; 
joy  in  what  1  have ;  joy  in  what  I  expect ;  joy  in  even  what 
I  want,  for  those  very  wants  will  lead  me  the  closer  and  the 
nearer  to  thee  ;  joy  in  what  I  fear,  for  my  fear  will  keep  me 
depending  upon  thee  ;  joy  in  what  I  suffer,  for  my  sufferings 
are  sweetly  blessed  when  they  afford  a  renewed  occasion  for 
my  Jesus  to  sooth  me  under  them,  and  in  his  time  to  deliver 
me  out  of  them  ;  and  joy  in  all  I  lose,  for  lose  what  I  may,  I 
cannot  lose  thee,  I  cannot  lose  God's  Christ;  I  cannot  lose  his 
love,  his  favour,  his  grace,  his  Spirit,  the  efficacy  of  his 
blood,  and  the  merits  of  his  righteousness.  Oh!  precious  se- 
curity !  precious  salvation  in  the  Lord  our  Righteousness ! 
Shall  I  not  then  live  up  to  this  heritage,  and  live  under  its  in- 
fluence, in  the  thankful,  joyful,  use  of  it  from  day  to  day? 
Go  thy  way,  my  soul,  go  in  Jesus  as  thy  way ;  every  day, 
and  all  the  day,  eat  thy  bread  with  joy ;  eye  Jesus  as  the 
spiritual  food,  and  always  present  at  thy  table ;  drink  hourly 
of  his  cup  of  salvation,  with  a  cheerful  heart,  for  thou  art  ac- 
cepted in  the  Beloved. 

20. — Grace  be  with  all  them  that  iove  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  shicerity. 
Ameu. — Eph.  V\.  24. 

And  dost  thou,  my  soul,  with  the  same  affection  and  love 
as  the  apostle,  bend  thy  knee  this  morning  before  His  throne 
of  whom  the  whole  family  in  heaven  and  earth  are  named! 
Dost  thou  look  up,  and  pray  that  all  grace  may  abound?  Oh! 
what  a  delightful  thought  is  it,  my  soul,  to  warm  thy  affec- 
tions, that  in  the  moment  thou  art  waiting  at  the  mercy-seat, 
thousands  are  waiting  also  for  the  morning  blessing.  Go 
then,  my  soul,  and  tell  thy  Redeemer  this  ;  tell  him  that  he 
hath  all-suited  grace,  and  that  the  eyes  of  his  redeemed,  as 
the  eyes  of  one  man,  are  all  directed  towards  him.  Yes, 
thou  glorious,  rich,  and  gracious  Saviour!  we  do  behold  thee 
still  as  the  Lamb  in  the  midst  of  the  throne,  leading  thy 
church  which  is  above  in  glory  to  fountains  of  living  waters. 
And,  Lord,  Ave  know  that  thou  art  equally  attentive  to  thy 
church  in  the  dry  and  barren  wilderness  here  below,  where 
no  waters  are.  Vouchsafe,  blessed  Lord,  to  supply  each  soul. 
Thou  hast  every  grace,  suited  to  all  wants  ;  grace  to  pardon, 
grace  to  save,  grace  to  renew,  grace  to  strengthen,  grace  to 
bless.  Oh,  Lord !  awaken,  convince,  humble,  comfort,  and 
pour  out  of  thy  fulness  as  our  several  necessities  may  be,  in 


JUNE.  :17l 

calling,  cleansing",  justifying,  adopting,  sanctifying,  and  build- 
ing up  thine  household,  that  all  grace  may  abound  according 
to  God's  riches  in  glory  by  Christ  Jesus.  Oh  !  ye  attendants 
at  the  heavenly  gate !  see  that  ye  come  not  empty  away.  Re- 
member Jesus  is  on  the  throne ;  eye  him  there.  Behold,  the 
very  grace  you  need  is  in  his  hand  ;  read  the  love  that  is  in 
his  heart,  and  remember  that  he  hath  not  onl}'-  the  very  grace 
you  need,  but  every  grace,  and  every  mercy  for  all  that  wait 
upon  him.  Tell  every  poor  sinner  this,  and  bid  him  ask  in 
faith,  nothing  doubting:  tell  all  you  know,  and  all  you  meet, 
and  all  you  see,  that  He  who  is  on  the  throne  hath  abundant 
grace,  and  wants  vessels — the  empty  vessels  of  his  people,  to 
give  out  into.  Tell  them  that  his  grace  exceeds  all  sense  of 
grace,  all  thoughts,  all  prayers,  all  praises,  all  desires  ;  nay, 
that  he  hath  exceeding  abundantly  above  all  that  they  can 
ask  or  think.  Behold,  then,  Oh  Lord  !  thy  children,  thy  re- 
deemed, thy  family,  and  let  all  grace  be  with  all  them,  and 
upon  all  them  that  love  thee  in  sincerity.     Amen. 

21. — Men  wondered  at. — Zech.  iii.  8. 

Men  wondered  at  indeed  !  And  every  redeemed  soul  may 
truly  say,  I  am  a  wonder  unto  many,  a  wonder  to  myself. 
Oh :  thou  whose  name  is  Wonderful !  both  thou,  and  the 
children  the  Lord  hath  given  thee,  are  for  signs  and  wonders. 
Behold  !  my  soul,  how  it  was  fulfilled  in  Him  whose  name 
is  Wonderful,  and  then  thine  astonishment  will  be  the  less 
that  it  should  be  fulfilled  in  his  followers.  I  would  contem- 
plate thy  Person,  blessed  Jesus,  and  behold  thee,  not  barely 
wondered  at,  but  despised  and  rejected  of  men.  The  world 
gazed  at  thee,  but  saw  no  beauty  nor  form  of  comeliness  in 
thee  to  desire  thee.  In  thine  oflices  also,  how  did  the  multi- 
tude despise  thee  as  a  Prophet;  v.-hen  blind-folding  thee,  and 
smiting  thee  on  thy  sacred  head,  they  tauntingly  cried  out, 
"  Prophecy,  thou  Christ,  who  is  he  that  smote  thee."  As  a 
Priest,  what  blasphemy  did  they  utter,  when  they  saw  enough 
to  be  convinced,  and  to  confess,  that  thou  didst  save  others, 
but  thyself  thou  couldest  not  save.  As  a  King,  when  having 
nailed  thee  to  the  tree,  they  demanded  a  proof  of  thy  power 
in  coming  down  from  the  cross.  And  wert  thou  not,  blessed 
Jesus,  wondered  at  in  thy  words,  when  they  acknowledged 
never  man  spake  like  this  man  ;  yet  charged  thy  doctrines 
with  blasphemy,  and  derided  thee  in  them  ?  Wert  thou  not 
the  wonder  and  the  hatred  of  the  world,  when  thy  miracles 


172  MORNING   PORTION. 

astonished  them,  but  were  ascribed  to  the  agency  of  Beel- 
zebub 1  Wert  thou  not,  oh,  thou  spotless  Lamb  of  God ! 
wert  thou  not  charged  with  immorality,  and  called  a  wine- 
bibber,  a  sabbath-breaker,  the  friend  of  publicans  and  sinners  ? 
Did  the  world  thus  treat  Jesus,  and  call  the  Master  of  the 
house  Beelzebub  ?  Oh  !  then,  my  soul,  well  may  they  so 
treat  them  of  his  household  !  And  must  it  not  be  so  ?  Yes. 
The  world  knoweth  them  not,  because  it  knew  him  not. 
They  are  made  a  spectacle,  a  gazing-stock,  a  reproach,  a 
bye-word.  How  unknown  in  their  new  birth  from  God ! 
how  little  understood  in  their  union  with  Jesus  !  How  per- 
fectly hidden  from  the  world  their  life  in  the  Spirit!  What 
an  everlasting  opposition  to  carnal  men  are  their  pursuits, 
their  pleasures,  their  happiness,  their  conversation,  their  de- 
sires !  How  wondered  at  their  life  of  faith  on  the  Son  of 
God !  They  have  meat  to  eat  the  world  knoweth  nothing  of, 
for  they  feed  upon  the  person,  body,  blood,  grace,  and  righ- 
teousness, of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  My  soul !  hast  thou  this 
rarity  of  character?  Hast  thou  this  blessed  singularity? 
Art  thou  wondered  at  because  thou  runnest  not  to  the  same 
excess  of  riot,  but  art  blameless  and  harmless,  among  the  sons 
of  God,  in  the  midst  of  a  crooked  and  perverse  generation  ? 
Oh!  blessed,  for  ever  blessed,  be  His  name,  who  hath  called 
thee  to  this  high,  this  glorious,  this  distinguishing  honour, 
of  being  wondered  at,  and  reproached  for  Jesus'  sake  !  Yes, 
Lord !  I  will  not  regard  the  reproach  of  men,  neither  be 
afraid  of  their  revilings,  for  "  the  moth  shall  eat  them  up 
like  a  garment,  and  the  worm  shall  eat  them  like  wool ;  but 
thy  righteousness  shall  be  for  ever,  and  thy  salvation  from 
generation  to  generation." 

22. — And  they  came  unto  the  brook  of  Eshcol,  and  cut  down  from  thence 
a  branch  with  one  cluster  of  grapes. — Numbers  xiii.  23. 

Was  not  this  single  cluster  God's  earnest  to  the  people  of 
the  sure  possession  of  the  land  where  those  delicious  fruits 
grew  ?  And  was  not  the  size  and  weight  of  this  one  branch 
a  sample  how  full  and  extensive  all  the  blessings,  both  of  the 
covenant  and  of  the  promised  land,  should  be  to  the  after 
possessions  of  God's  people  ?  My  soul !  dost  thou  not  see  in 
it  then  a  precious  representation  of  Jesus,  that  one  Branch, 
and  of  all  that  cluster  of  blessings  which  are  in  him.  Well 
might  the  church  cry  out  concerning  the  Redeemer,  "  My 
beloved  is  unto  me  as  a  cluster  of  camphire  in  the  vineyards 


JUNE.  173 

of  Engedi."  For  whether  this  camphire,  this  copher,  denotes 
the  vine  of  Cyprus,  or  the  fruit  of  the  palm-tree,  in  either,  or 
in  both,  the  soul-strengthening,  soul-exhilarating,  soul-healing 
virtues  of  his  unnumbered  excellencies,  may  well  be  set  forth 
under  the  beautiful  similitude  of  the  cluster  of  grapes  from 
the  brook  of  Eshcol.  Yes  !  thou  dear  Lord  !  thou  hast  con- 
descended to  compare  thyself  to  the  vine  ;  and  to  thy  people 
thou  art  indeed  a  cluster  of  all  that  is  lovely,  sweet,  gracious, 
and  endearing.  In  thee  dwelleth,  like  the  berries  of  the 
richest  cluster,  all  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead  bodily.  In  thee 
is  found  all  the  purity,  holiness,  harmlessness,  and  perfection 
of  the  human  nature,  as  God  manifest  in  flesh.  In  thee,  as 
God-man  Mediator,  we  behold  the  cluster  of  all  spiritual 
graces ;  all  spiritual,  temporal,  eternal,  blessings,  all  divine 
promises  ;  all,  all  are  in  thee,  to  give  out  to  thy  people. 
Neither  is  there  a  mercy  thy  people  can  want,  of  grace  here, 
or  glory  hereafter,  but  what  is  treasured  up  in  thee,  in  a  fulness 
perfectly  inexhaustible.  Precious  Jesus  !  revive  my  spirits 
this  day  with  this  view  of  thee.  Give  me  to  see  when  my 
soul  desireth  the  first  ripe  fruit,  that  thou  thyself  art  all  my 
soul  can  need.  Bring  me  to  the  brook  of  Eshcol,  and  there 
let  my  eyes,  my  heart,  my  whole  soul,  and  body,  and  spirit, 
feast  itself  in  the  contemplation  and  enjoyment  of  thy  Person, 
thy  graces,  gifts,  and  fulness,  until  under  the  full  satisfaction 
my  soul  findeth,  in  being  eternally  filled  with  thy  goodness, 
I  cry  out  with  the  church.  My  beloved  is  unto  me  as  the 
richest  of  all  the  clusters  of  copher  in  the  vineyards  of 
Engedi. 


23. — And  he  will  destroy  in  this  mountain  the  face  of  the  covering  cast 
over  all  people,  and  the  vail  that  is  spread  over  all  nations. — 
Isaiah  xxv.  7. 

What  a  precious  promise  was  this,  with  which  the  Lord 
comforted  the  church  under  the  Old  Testament  dispensation, 
that  the  faithful  might  look  forward  to  the  New  Testament 
dispensation,  when  Jesus  in  the  holy  mountain,  where  he 
finished  transgression  by  his  triumphant  death,  would  effec- 
tually remove  the  covering  which  had  blackened  all  faces, 
and  had  separated  between  God  and  guilty  sinners.  And, 
that  the  gracious  promise  might  be  had  in  everlasting  remem- 
brance by  the  people,  the  evangelists  were  commissioned  to 
tell  the  church,  that  in  the  moment  Christ  died,  the  vail  of  the 
temple  was  rent  in  twain,  by  an  invisible  hand,  from  the  top 

15* 


174  MORNING   PORTION,  * 

to  the  bottom.  My  soul!  see  how  Jesus,  thy  Jesus,  hath 
most  effectually  fulfilled  this  precious  promise.  There  was  a 
vail  of  covering  spread  to  separate  thee  for  ever  from  God, 
had  not  Jesus  taken  it  away,  even  the  covenant  of'  perfect 
obedience.  God's  injured  perfections  formed  also  a  total 
separation.  And  as  if  these  were  not  sufficient,  the  vail  of 
sin  would  have  for  ever  kept  up  this  distance  :  "  Your  iniqui- 
ties have  separated  between  God  and  you,"  saith  the  prophet. 
But  now  by  his  precious  undertaking  in  fulfilling  the  whole 
covenant  of  works,  restoring  the  honour  to  God  the  Father's 
injured  perfections,  and  opening  a  new  and  living  way  by 
his  blood,  which  he  hath  consecrated  through  the  vail  of  his 
flesh,  he  hath  opened  the  kingdom  of  heaven  to  all  believers. 
Precious  Jesus!  how  endeared  to  my  heart  is  this  view  of 
thee  and  of  thy  great  salvation  !  Yes,  thou  Lamb  of  God  ! 
I  have  seen  by  thy  Spirit's  teaching  this  deadly  face  of  cover- 
ing, which  by  sin  hath  been  cast  over  all  people ;  and  I  have 
seen,  by  the  same  Almighty  grace,  that  vail  removed  by  thee. 
Now,  Lord,  in  thee,  and  through  thee,  and  by  thee,  I  am  led 
to  behold  the  glory  of  God  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ.  And 
having  fled  for  refuge  to  the  hope  that  is  before  me,  this  hope 
I  have  in  thee,  as  an  anchor  of  the  soul,  both  sure  and  stead- 
fast, and  have  cast  it  within  the  vail,  whither  thou  our  Fore- 
runner hast  for  us  entered,  even  our  glorious  High  Priest  for 
ever,  after  the  order  of  Melchizedic. 


24. — And  another  angel  came  and  stood  at  the  altar,  having  a  golden 
censer  ;  and  there  was  given  unto  him  much  incense,  that  he  should 
offer  it  with  the  prayers  of  all  saints,  upon  the  golden  altar  which 
was  before  the  throne. — Rev.  viii.  3. 

My  soul !  behold  this  mighty  Angel,  even  thy  Jesus,  in 
his  priestly  office.  Look  at  him  with  an  earnest  eye  of  faith, 
before  thou  goest  this  morning  to  the  mercy-seat.  See  his 
golden  censer,  with  his  much  incense,  and  contemplate  both 
the  fulness  of  merit  in  his  own  glorious  Person,  and  the  ful- 
ness of  efficacy  in  his  work  and  righteousness,  for  the  sure 
acceptance  of  all  his  redeemed.  Go  near,  my  soul,  having 
boldness  to  enter  now  into  the  holiest  by  the  blood  of  Jesus. 
Hear  thy  great  High  Priest  bidding  thee  to  take  shelter  under 
his  golden  censer,  and  behold  him  presenting  thy  person  and 
thy  poor  offerings  upon  the  golden  altar,  even  his  divine 
nature,  before  the  throne.  Yes,  Lord  !  I  would  draw  nigh 
in  thee,  and  by  thee,  convinced  that  it  is  wholly  from  thee, 


JUNE.  1T5 

and  for  thy  sake,  either  my  person  or  my  prayers  can  find 
acceptance.  For  thee,  and  for  thy  sake,  my  sins  are  pardoned, 
my  offerings  are  accepted,  grace  is  bestowed,  communion  and 
fellowship  is  obtained ;  peace  in  this  life,  and  glory  in  that 
which  is  to  come,  are  the  portion  of  thy  people.  Hail !  thou 
glorious,  gracious,  all-sufficient.  High  Priest !  To  thee  be 
glory,  in  the  church,  throughout  all  ages !     Amen. 

25. — The  eyes  of  the  Lord  are  upon  the  righteous,  and  his  ears  are  open 
unto  their  cry. — Psalm  xxxiv.  15. 

My  soul !  never  more  allow  thyself  to  suppose  that  thou 
art  overlooked  or  forgotten  amidst  the  immensity  of  God's 
works.  Is  it  not  the  province  of  a  father  to  attend  to  the 
wants  of  his  children  1  And  will  not  God  regard  his  own, 
that  cry  night  and  day  unto  him,  though  he  bear  long  with 
them  ?  This  was  the  very  argument  of  our  Redeemer,  Do 
you,  saith  Jesus,  that  are  evil,  know  how  to  give  good  gifts 
unto  your  children,  and  shall  not  your  heavenly  Father  give 
his  Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask  him  ?  But,  my  soul,  while 
thou  art  taking  comfort  from  this  view  of  divine  love,  take 
with  thee  another  sweet  thought  from  this  precious  verse  of 
scripture.  Whose  eyes  are  thus  upon  thee,  and  whose  ears 
are  thus  open  to  thy  cries,  but  those  of  the  Lord  Jesus  1  Oh, 
how  sweet  the  thought !  that  by  reason  of  the  Son  of  God,  as 
Christ,  being  in  our  nature,  and  he  having  taken  upon  him 
our  nature,  he  hath  eyes  to  see,  and  ears  to  hear,  such  as  we 
have.  What  a  blessed  light  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  thrown  over 
all  those  precious  passages  in  which  God  is  spoken  of  as  hav- 
ing eyes,  and  ears,  and  an  arm,  and  the  like,  describing  him- 
self by  human  powers  :  that  it  is  indeed  the  divine  nature  of 
the  Man  Christ  Jesus.  It  is  Jesus  the  Mediator,  the  Redeemer, 
the  exalted  and  triumphant  Saviour,  who  hath  all  power  in 
heaven  and  in  earth  ;  who,  having  loved  his  own  which  are 
in  the  world,  hath  loved  them  unto  the  end.  My  soul !  learn 
then  to  behold  in  all  these  sweet  proportions,  that  it  is  Jesus, 
thy  Husband  and  Brother,  as  well  as  thy  God  and  Saviour, 
(and  both  forming  one  glorious  Christ.)  whose  eyes  are  al- 
ways upon  thee,  and  whose  ears  are  always  attentive  to  thy 
cries,  and  to  the  cries  of  all  his  redeemed. 

26. — The  Lord  possessed  me  in  the  beginning  of  his  way  ;  before  his 
works  of  old  ;  I  was  set  up  from  everlasting. — Prov.  viii.  22,  23. 

Pause,  my  soul,  over  those  most  blessed  words,  and  see 
what  glories  are  contained  in  them.    May  God  the  Spirit  glo- 


176  MORNING   PORTION. 

rify  Christ  to  thy  view,  while  pondering-  these  words.  Who 
is  it  that  speaks  them  ?  Is  it  not  Wisdom  7  Even  Christ, 
the  wisdom  of  God,  as  the  apostle  elsewhere  calls  him  ?  But 
how  was  he  possessed  by  the  Lord,  and  how  set  up  from 
everlasting  ?  Not  openly  in  the  human  form  that  he  was  in 
the  fulness  of  time  to  take  upon  him  for  the  purposes  of  re- 
demption ;  but,  as  it  should  seem,  secretly,  as  subsisting  in 
covenant  engagements  from  everlasting.  As  Mediator,  was 
it  not  ?  Not  as  yet  made  flesh,  but  (if  we  may  from  another 
scripture  draw  the  conclusion)  as  the  image  of  the  invisible 
God,  the  first-born  of  every  creature.  Coloss.  i.  1 5.  What 
a  glory,  beheld  in  this  view,  doth  this  precious  scripture, 
with  all  that  follows  it  in  the  chapter,  hold  forth !  The  Son 
of  God,  in  covenant  engagements  from  everlasting,  was  in 
time  to  take  into  himself  manhood,  and  from  the  union  of 
both  God  and  man  become  one  Christ.  Hence,  from  ever- 
lasting. Wisdom,  one  of  those  natures,  is  set  up  and  speaks 
as  a  person  not  separate  or  distinct  from  the  other  nature  of 
the  Godhead,  but  as  in  union,  and  from  both,  forming  (in 
covenant  settlements)  the  one  glorious  Mediator.  So  that  it  is 
not  Wisdom,  as  a  person,  speaking,  without  subsisting  in  the 
Son  of  God,  neither  is  it  the  Son  of  God,  without  Wisdom 
subsisting  as  such  in  him,  but  both  forming  one  identical  per- 
son, and  that  person  the  Mediator,  whose  name  was  then  se- 
cret, but  afterwards  was  to  be  called  Wonderful,  when  by  the 
open  appearance  of  the  Son  of  God,  tabernacling  in  a  body 
of  flesh,  redemption-work,  from  everlasting  covenanted  for 
and  agreed  upon  by  the  several  persons  of  the  Godhead,  was 
to  be  completed.  What  a  blessed  contemplation  is  here 
opened,  my  soul,  to  thy  diligent  and  humble  inquiry.  Here 
direct  all  thy  researches  ;  here  let  prayer  ascend  for  divine 
teachings  to  guide  thee ;  and  here  behold  Him,  who,  in  the 
after-ages  of  his  love,  made  an  open  display  of  himself  as  the 
God-man,  when  he  manifested  forth  his  glory,  and  his  disci- 
ples believed  on  him  ;  thus,  as  the  Wisdom-man,  declaring 
himself  as  possessed  by  Jehovah  in  the  beginning  of  his 
way,  and  set  up  before  all  worlds  as  Jehovah's  delight,  while 
his  delights  were  with  the  sons  of  men.  Oh  !  the  wisdom  of 
God  in  a  mystery,  even  the  hidden  wisdom  which  God  or- 
dained before  the  world  began  ! 

27. — I  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  first  and  the  last. — Rev.  I  11. 

My  soul !  if  the  precious  meditation  of  yesterday  be  not 
wholly  gone  off  from  thy  poor  forgetful  mind  this  day,  here 


JUNE.  177 

is  another  blessed  view  to  revive  the  thought  afresh,  in  look- 
ing at  the  Mediator,  as  the  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  first  and  the 
last,  in  the  same  covenant  engagements.  Jesus  is  indeed,  as 
the  8th  verse  of  this  same  chapter  expresses  it,  the  Alpha  and 
Omega,  as  one  with  the  Father,  over  all  God  blessed  for  ever. 
But  he  is  also  here  the  Alpha  and  Omega,  as  the  Mediator, 
both  God  and  man.  For  he  is  the  first  and  the  last  of  all 
God's  thoughts,  and  in  his  covenant  engagements,  of  all  Je- 
hovah's works,  for  every  thing  in  creation  begins  and  con- 
cludes in  him.  From  everlasting  he  was  set  up.  So  that 
though  Adam  was  the  first  man  openly,  yet  not  the  first  man 
secretly,  and  as  subsisting  in  covenant  engagements.  Here 
again,  as  was  remarked  before,  and  from  an  authority  not  to 
be  disputed,  he  is  the  image  of  the  invisible  God,  the  first- 
born of  every  creature,  that  in  all  things  he  might  have  the 
pre-eminence.  Precious  Jesus  !  be  thou  to  me  the  Alpha  and 
Omega.  And  as  it  is  plain  that  Jehovah  possessed  thee  as 
the  glorious  covenant  Head  of  thy  people  in  the  beginning  of 
his  way,  and  before  his  works  of  old,  so  cause  me  to  possess 
thee  as  the  all  in  all,  the  first  and  the  last,  the  Author  and 
Finisher  of  my  salvation. 

28. — Carry  down  the  man  a  present. — Gen.  xliii.  11 

Ah,  poor  Jacob  !  how  unconscious  wert  thou  that  this  man, 
the  governor  of  Egypt,  was  so  near  and  dear  to  thee,  and 
that  his  bowels  yearned  to  tell  thee  how  much  he  loved  thee. 
And  oh,  ye  sons  of  Israel !  who  would  have  had  power  to 
convince  you,  while  you  were  bowing  down  before  Joseph 
under  the  dreadful  apprehensions  which  agitated  your  minds, 
and  he  was  assuming  a  voice  of  displeasure,  that  this  very 
man  was  your  brother  1  My  soul !  and  what  was  all  this, 
heightened  to  the  greatest  possible  degree  in  the  real  love  and 
affection  of  Joseph  towards  his  family,  compared  to  that  love 
of  Jesus  which  passeth  knowledge?  Jesus  is  thy  Brother, 
and  he  is  the  Governor,  not  of  Egypt  only,  but  of  heaven 
and  earth.  The  famine,  it  is  true,  is  sore  in  the  land,  and  to 
him  thou  must  go  for  sustenance,  or  thou  wilt  perish  for  ever. 
But  wilt  thou  carry  down  the  man  a  present  1  My  soul, 
what  hast  thou  to  carry  ?  Not  thy  duties,  nor  thy  prayers, 
thine  alms,  thy  righteousness  :  these  are  all  fihhy  rags.  Be- 
sides, he  to  whom  thou  goest  needeth  not  the  gifts  and  offer- 
ings of  his  creatures.  His  terms  are,  without  money  and 
without  price.     Go  then,  my  soul,  poor  and  wretched  as  thou 


178  MORNING    PORTION. 

art,  go  to  him  with  a  broken  and  a  contrite  heart,  for  that  he 
will  not  despise.  And  oh  !  what  a  volume  of  mercies,  bles- 
sings, and  graces,  is  contained  in  that  one  word  of  his,  when 
he  shall  say,  I  am  Jesus  your  Brother  !  Precious  Jesus  !  I 
would  say, thou  art  indeed  a  Brother  born  for  adversity.  Thou 
art  he  whom  thy  brethren  shall  praise,  and  all  thy  Father's 
children  shall  bow  down  before  thee. 


29. — And  they  sought  him  among  their  kinsfolks  and  acquaintance,  and 
found  him  not. — Luke  ii.  44,  45. 

May  we  not  gather  a  lesson  of  sweet  instruction  from  the 
anxious  and  fruitless  search  the  parents  made  for  Jesus  in 
the  days  of  his  flesh  ?  What  kinsfolks  and  acquaintances 
shall  we  now  search  among  for  the  Saviour?  My  soul !  how 
little  of  Jesus  is  to  be  found  in  this  Christless  generation ! 
What  parlor  conversation  makes  mention  of  his  name  ?  Is 
it  not  plain  and  evident,  from  the  general,  nay,  almost  uni- 
versal, silence  observed  in  all  companies  concerning  his 
name,  and  offices,  and  characters,  and  relations,  that  Christ  is 
not  there?  Shall  we  seek  him  among  the  professors  of  the 
gospel  ?  Who  are  they  that  honour  Jesus  ?  Not  they  who 
deny  his  Godhead ;  not  they  who  deny  the  influences  of  his 
Holy  Spirit ;  not  they  who  set  up  their  own  righteousness  as 
part,  or  the  whole,  of  their  justification  before  God.  Jesus  is 
not  in  that  house,  in  that  family,  in  that  heart,  among  that 
people  who  live  in  sensuality,  profaneness,  and  impiety. 
Where  shall  we  seek  Jesus  ?  Blessed  Lord  !  mine  eyes  are 
unto  thee  to  be  taught.  I  would  say  unto  thee,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  church,  '•  Tell  me,  O  thou  whom  my  soul  loveth, 
where  thou  feedest,  where  thou  makest  thy  flock  to  rest  at 
noon.  O,  when  I  shall  nnd  thee  without,  I  would  lead  thee, 
and  bring  thee  into  my  mother's  house,  who  would  instruct 
me  ;  and  I  would  cause  thee  to  drink  of  spiced  wine  of  the 
juice  of  my  pomegranate." 

30. — In  thee  the  fatherless  findeth  mercy. — Hosea  xiv.  3. 

Sweet  thought!  In  Jesus,  and  the  relationship  which  he 
hath  condescended  to  place  himself  in,  all  his  poor  followers 
may  find  a  supply  to  fill  up  every  vacancy.  My  soul !  con- 
template Jesus  in  this  blessed  feature  of  character.  What 
relation  do  we  need?  The  fatherless  are  commanded  to 
look  to  him  whose  name  is  the  everlasting  Father.     The  mo- 


JULY.  179 

therless  also,  for  he  hath  said,  "  As  one  whom  his  mother 
comforteth,  so  will  I  comfort  thee."  Doth  death  make  a 
breach  between  the  husband  and  the  wife?  then  the  scrip- 
ture saith,  "  Thy  Maker  is  thine  husband,  the  Lord  of 
Hosts  is  his  name."  Are  we  friendless  ?  "  Jesus  is  the 
friend  that  loveth  at  all  times,  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  bro- 
ther." In  short,  there  is  no  situation  among-  the  affinities 
of  life,  the  kinder  charities  of  nature,  but  what  Jesus  fills, 
and  infinitely  transcends  all.  Pause,  my  soul  :  over  this 
view  of  Jesus,  and  behold  how  he  graciously  proposeth 
himself  to  supply  all  wants,  and  to  fill  all  vacancies.  Jesus 
is  both  the  Father,  the  Friend,  the  Brother,  the  Husband, 
the  whole  in  one  of  all  relationships  and  of  all  connexions. 
And  amidst  all  the  changes  the  fluctuating  circumstances  of 
human  afikirs,  the  frailties  and  infirmities  of  our  own  hearts, 
and  the  hearts  of  others,  which  sometimes  separate  chief 
friends,  what  a  blessed  thought  it  is,  "  Nothing  can  sepa- 
rate from  the  love  of  Christ!"  Precious  Lord  !  give  me  to 
cry  out  with  the  church,  under  the  full  assurance  of  thine 
unalterable  love,  "  This  is  my  beloved,  and  this  is  my  friend, 
O  daughter  of  Jerusalem." 


JULY, 


1. — ^Because  of  the  savour  of  thy  good  ointments,  thy  name  is  as  oint- 
ment poured  forth. — Song  i.  3. 

Why,  my  Lord,  is  thy  name  so  truly  blessed,  but  because 
thou  hast  so  endeared  it  to  thy  redeemed,  by  every  tie  which 
can  gain  the  affections  !  Didst  thou,  even  before  I  had  a 
being,  enter  into  suretyship-engagements  for  me,  that  thou 
wouldest  redeem  me  when  fallen,  that  thou  wouldest  take  my 
nature,  live  for  me,  die  for  me,  become  a  sacrifice  for  me, 
shed  thy  blood  for  me,  wash  me  in  thy  blood,  clothe  me  in 
thy  righteousness,  justify  me  before  God  and  thy  Father,  be- 
come my  Ad  vocate,  High-Priest,  Intercessor,  betroth  me  to  thy- 
self here  in  grace,  and  everlastingly  unite  me  to  thyself  in 
glory  hereafter !     Didst  thou  do  all  this,  and  art  thou  still 


180  MORNING   PORTION. 

doing  it,  maKing"  my  cause  thine  own,  and  following  me 
with  love,  and  grace,  and  mercy,  every  day,  and  all  day,  and 
wilt  thou  never  leave  me  nor  forsake  me !  And  must  not  thy 
name  be  as  ointment  poured  forth?  Can  there  be  a  savour 
as  sweet,  as  fragrant,  as  full  of  odour,  as  the  name  of  Jesus? 
Precious  ointments,  it  is  true,  have  a  smell  in  them  very 
grateful ;  but  what  savour  can  be  like  that,  which  to  the  spi- 
ritual senses  manifests  Jesus  in  his  person,  love,  grace,  and 
mercy  ;  in  whom  there  is  every  thing  desirable,  and  nothing 
but  what  is  lovely  ;  all  beauty,  power,  wisdom,  strength,  an 
assemblage  of  graces,  more  full  of  odour  than  all  the  spices 
of  the  east  ?  Precious  Lord  Jesus !  let  thy  name  be  writ- 
ten in  my  heart,  and  let  every  thing  but  Jesus  be  for  ever  ob- 
literated there,  that  nothing  may  arise  from  thence  but  what 
speaks  of  thee ;  that  through  life,  and  in  death,  the  first  and 
last,  and  all  that  drops  from  my  lips,  even  in  the  separation  of 
soul  and  body.  Jesus  may  form  in  the  close  of  grace  here,  and 
in  the  first  opening  of  glory  to  follow,  the  one  blessed  precious 
Name,  as  ointment  poured  forth. 

2, — And  thou  shalt  not  be  for  another  man  ;  so  will  I  also  be  for  thee. — 
Hosea  iii.  3. 

My  soul,  was  not  God  the  Holy  Ghost  representing,  by  the 
similitude  of  his  servant  the  prophet's  marriage  with  an 
adulteress,  the  astonishing  marriage  of  Jesus  with  our  na- 
ture, and  his  personal  union  with  every  individual  of  his 
church  and  people  ?  Look  at  this  scripture,  and  see  how 
sweetly  it  points  to  Jesus.  The  prophet  was  commanded  to 
love  this  woman,  beloved  of  her  friend,  and  yet  an  adulteress. 
He  was  to  buy  her  also  to  himself:  and  he  was  to  charge 
her  to  abide  with  him,  and  not  to  play  the  harlot  any  more, 
saying  unto  her,  "  And  thou  shalt  not  be  for  another  man,  so 
will  I  also  be  for  thee."  Precious  Jesus,  do  I  not  behold 
thee  in  all  this  ?  Can  any  thing  more  strikingly  shadow- 
forth  thy  grace,  thy  mercy,  thy  love,  to  thy  people  ?  Was 
not  our  whole  nature  estranged  from  thee,  when  thou  camest 
down  from  heaven,  to  seek  and  save  that  which  was  lost? 
Were  not  all  in  a  state  of  daring  adultery,  when  thou  hadst 
from  everlasting  betrothed  thyself  to  us,  in  standing  up  our 
glorious  Husband  and  Surety  ?  And  how  striking  the  ex- 
pression ;  "  Then  said  the  Lord  unto  me,  go  yet,  love  a 
woman  beloved  of  her  friend ;"  surely  at  the  command  of 
God  thy  Father,  and  not  uncalled,  unsent,  unauthorized, 


JULY.  181 

didst  thou  come.  Our  nature  was  indeed  yet  beloved  of 
thee,  our  best  and  dearest  Friend,  though  in  a  state  of 
spiritual  adultery,  and  wholly  gone  away  from  thee.  Yes, 
blessed  Jesus !  in  defiance  of  all  our  multiplied  transgres- 
sions, it  might  be  truly  said,  we  were  yet  beloved  of  thee 
our  Friend  and  Brother,  born  for  adversity;  for  thou  wert 
then,  as  now,  unchangeable  in  thy  love,  the  same  Jesus  yes- 
terday, to-day,  and  for  ever.  And  surely,  Lord,  in  another 
feature  the  prophet  shadowed  thee  forth :  for  as  he  purchased 
the  harlot,  so  thou,  Lord,  before  we  became  thine,  didst  pur- 
chase us  by  thy  blood.  And  dost  thou  now  say  to  me  this  day, 
"  Abide  with  me,  and  thou  shalt  not  be  for  another  man,  so 
will  I  also  be  for  thee  ?"  Oh,  condescending  God  !  oh,  pre- 
cious, lovely,  all-loving  Saviour  !  Lord  make  me  thine,  yea, 
altogether  thine !  Let  my  whole  soul,  and  body,  and  spirit, 
be  all  thine,  both  by  the  conquests  of  thy  grace,  as  they  are 
justly  thine,  and  by  the  purchase  of  thy  blood,  that  never, 
never  more,  I  may  depart  from  thee,  but  with  the  same  full 
consent  as  the  church  of  old,  I  may  exult  in  this  blessed  as- 
surance :   Ml/  beloved  is  mine,  and  I  am  his. 

3. — Now  the  end  of  the  commandment  is  charity,  out  of  a  pure  heart, 
and  of  a  good  conscience,  and  of  faith  unfeigned. — 1  Timothy  i.  3. 

See,  my  soul,  what  Jesus  hath  secured  for  thee,  by  his 
gracious  undertaking  and  accomplishment ;  and  which  his 
servant  was  commissioned  to  tell  the  church,  was  the  very 
end  of  the  commandment,  namely,  charity  and^^love.  And 
this  law  of  love  is  given  thee,  that  thou  mightest  manifest 
whose  thou  art,  and  to  whom  thou  dost  belong ;  not  as  a  rule 
of  acceptance,  for  then  that  vs/'ould  be  to  make  thy  love  a  co- 
venant of  works,  but  as  a  sweet  testimony  of  thy  affection  in 
the  hand  of  Jesus.  It  is  a  law  of  love  indeed,  because  the 
cords  of  love,  by  which  thou  art  drawn,  prove  it  to  be  so. 
Thy  obedience  is  not  from  slavish  fear,  for  then  this  would 
be  bondage,  but  the  love  of  Christ  constrains  thee.  Thy 
love  to  him  makes  thee  long  to  be  like  him.  Thy  love  to 
him  makes  his  commandments  not  grievous  but  gracious. 
Thy  love  to  him  makes  ordinances  precious,  because  Jesus  is 
the  whole  of  them.  And  thy  love  to  him  makes  all  that 
belongs  to  him  dear,  and  in  which  Jesus  requires  thy  proofs 
of  affection  ;  not  in  thy  strength,  as  the  poor  Israelites  were 
demanded  to  make  brick  without  straw,  but  living  in  thee, 
and  working  in  thee,  both  to  will  and  to  do  of  his  good  plea- 

16 


182  MORNING   PORTION. 

sure.  Here,  my  soul,  thou  truly  findest  strength  and  grace 
equal  to  thy  day.  The  end  of  every  commandment,  as  well 
as  the  beginning,  is  love,  for  it  begins  in  Jesus,  is  carried  on 
in  Jesus,  and  ends  in  Jesus,  and  he  is  all  love.  And  in  him, 
and  by  him,  the  conscience,  the  heart,  faith,  all,  are  kept  pure, 
undefiled,  and  unfeigned,  because  love  in  Jesus  is  at  the  bot- 
tom ;  like  the  chariot  of  Solomon,  paved  with  love.  Oh, 
thou  glorious  pattern  of  all  holiness  !  make  me  like  thy- 
self! 


4. — I  am  among  you  as  he  that  serveth. — Luke  xxii,  27. 

Surely  there  is  a  blessedness  in  these  words  that  affords 
substance  to  feed  upon.  My  soul,  read  them  again  and  again  ; 
pause  over  them,  pray  over  them,  and  look  up  to  Him,  that 
thus  so  humbly,  graciously,  and  lovingly,  expressed  himself! 
Art  thou,  blessed  Jesus,  among  thy  people  as  he  that  serveth  ? 
I  know,  Lord,  that  thou  didst  condescend  to  become  the  ser- 
vant of  Jehovah,  though  thou  w^ert  Lord  of  all,  when,  for  the 
salvation  of  poor  sinners,  thou  didst  undertake  to  veil  thy 
Godhead,  and  in  our  nature  to  become  our  Surety.  And  I 
know.  Lord,  also,  that  thou  didst,  in  a  very  memorable  mo- 
ment, and  at  a  time  when  (as  the  Evangelist  had  it  to  relate 
to  the  church)  ihou  knewest  that  the  Father  had  given  all 
things  into  thine  hands,  thou  didst  condescend  to  wash  thy 
disciples'  feet.  But  art  thou  still  among  thy  people  as  one 
that  serveth?  Be  astonished.  Oh  heavens  I  and  wonder.  Oh 
earth !  All  power  is  thine  in  heaven  and  in  earth  I  And 
is  Jesus  among  his  people,  among  his  redeemed  ones,  his  ex- 
ercised ones,  as  he  that  serveth?  Pause  again,  my  soul. 
Meditate  upon  the  blessed  gracious  words.  Was  there  not  a 
circumstance  of  trial,  when  Christ  was  upon  earth,  but  what 
he  felt  in  his  human  nature,  when  fulfilling  all  righteousness? 
Then  will  it  follow,  that  there  cannot  be  a  circumstance  of 
trial  which  his  members  now  feel  but  what  he  knows  ;  nay, 
what  he  appoints.  And  if  he  appoints  it,  is  he  not  looking 
on;  nay,  measuring  out  suited  strength,  suited  grace,  as  the 
circumstances  shall  require  ?  And  if  all  this  be  in  Jesus  now, 
and  every  minute  event,  both  his  ordering,  supporting  under, 
carrying  through,  crowning  ;  in  all  is  he  not,  though  Lord 
of  all,  servant  of  all ;  and  doth  he  not  now  say  to  every  poor 
disciple  in  the  present  moment,  as  fully  as  he  did  to  them  in 
the  garden  with  him,  "I  am  among  you  as  he  that  serveth?" 
My  Lord  and  my  God,  would  1  cry  out,  under  the  same  con- 


JULY.  183 

scious  shame  of  my  dreadful  unbelief,  as  Thomas  did  under 
his.  Yes.  Lord,  thou  art  still  ministering,  still  serving  !  And 
though  I  lose  sight  of  thee  in  a  thousand  and  ten  thousand 
instances,  where  nothing  but  thy  imparted  strenslh  could 
carry  me  through ;  yet  plain  and  most  evident  it  is,  that  ia 
all  the  blessings  of  thy  finished  redemption,  thou  thyself  art 
giving  out,  and  serving  up,  grace  to  thy  people.  Thou  didst 
first  purchase  all  blessings  with  th}^  blood.  And  now  thou 
ever  livest  to  see  them  administered  b}^  thy  spirit.  Precious 
Jesus !  thou  art  ever  with  me.  By  and  by  I  shall  be  with 
thee,  I  shall  see  thee  as  thou  art,  and  shall  be  satisfied  when 
I  awake  with  thy  likeness. 

5. — Thou  shalt  not  wear  a  garment  of  divers  sorts,  as  of  linen  and  wool- 
len together. — Deut.  xxii.  11. 

TnorGH  the  true  believer,  who,  like  the  king's  daughter, 
is  all  glorious  wuthin,  cannot  but  know,  that  as  meat  com- 
mendeth  us  not  to  God,  so  neither  doth  the  necessary  dress, 
which,  since  the  fall,  is  become  suited  to  cover  our  sinful 
bodies,  make  a  part  of  our  holy  faith  :  yet  it  is  highly  proper, 
that  persons  professing  godliness  should  use  great  plainness 
of  apparel.  The  ornament  of  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit,  we  are 
told,  is  of  great  price  in  the  sight  of  God.  But  who  should 
have  thought  that  such  a  precept  as  this  of  Moses  had  a  gos- 
pel signification.  And  yet  as  Christ  was  preached  under 
types  and  figures  through  the  whole  law,  we  may  reasonably 
suppose  that  not  a  single  command  was  then  given,  but  what 
had  an  eye  to  him  and  his  great  salvation.  But  if  we  find 
the  Lord  so  strict  respecting  the  outward  dress  of  the  body, 
what  may  we  conclude  the  Lord  would  enjoin  respecting  the 
inward  clothing  of  the  soul  ?  If  woollen  and  linen  were  of- 
fensive to  be  worn  together,  surely  we  cannot  appear  before 
God  in  the  motley  dress  of  Jesiis'  righteousness  and  our  own. 
The  fine  linen,  scripture  saith,  is  the  righteousness  of  saints. 
With  this,  which  Jesus  puts  on  his  people,  nothing  of  our 
own  woollen  garments  must  be  worn.  The  righteousness 
of  a  creature,  had  we  any.  (which  in  fact  we  have  none.)  can- 
not be  suited  to  mix  with  the  righteousness  of  the  Creator. 
And  no  man  that  is  wise  for  salvation,  would  put  the  old 
piece  of  our  corrupt  and  worn  out  nature  upon  the  new  gar- 
ment of  the  renewed  nature  in  Christ  Jesus.  When  there- 
fore the  Lord  saith,  Thou  shalt  not  wear  a  garment  of  divers 
sorts,  my  heart  replies.  No,  Lord !  let  me  be  clothed  with  the 


*^ 


184  MORNING   PORTION. 


rote  of  thy  righteousness,  and  the  garment  of  thy  salvation ; 
then  shall  I  be  found  suited  for  the  marriage  supper,  when 
the  King  comes  in  to  see  the  guests  at  his  table. 

6. — Nay,  in.  all  these  things  we  are  more  than  conquerors  through  him 
that  loved  us. — Romans  viii.  37. 

More  than  conquerors  !  mark  that,  my  soul.  Conquerors 
all  the  soldiers  of  Jesus  must  be,  for  in  his  strength  they  fight, 
and  he  hath  himself  subdued  all  our  foes,  even  death  the  last 
enemy,  and  Satan,  whom  the  God  of  peace  will  bruise  under 
our  feet  shortly.  So  that  victory  is  sure.  For  we  overcome 
by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  by  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  and  by 
the  shield  of  faith,  whereby  we  subdue  all  the  fiery  darts  of 
the  wicked.  But  though  conquerors,  how  are  we  7}ior€  than 
conquerors  ?  Yes,  through  Him  that  loved  us,  believers  ab- 
solutely conquer  Him  that  is  himself  unconquerable.  For, 
by  union  with  Jesus,  we  may  be  said  to  have  the  power  with 
God,  and  to  prevail.  "■  I  will  not  let  thee  go,"  said  the  pray- 
ing Jacob,  "  except  thou  bless  me."  A  blessing  he  came  for, 
and  a  blessing  he  would  have.  So  all  the  praying  seed  of 
Jacob  have  power  through  the  blood  and  righteousness  of 
Jesus,  in  like  manner.  Hence  Jesus  saith  to  his  church, 
"  Turn  away  thine  eyes  from  me,  for  they  have  overcome 
me."  Sweet  and  precious  thought!  my  soul,  never  lose 
sight  of  it.  Through  Him  that  loved  thee,  and  gave  himself 
for  thee,  thou  art  more  than  conqueror :  nay,  thy  present  vic- 
tories are  more  than  the  victories  of  the  church  in  heaven. 
For  they  have  now  no  more  conflicts  with  tribulation,  or  dis- 
tress, or  persecution,  or  famine,  or  nakedness,  or  peril,  or 
sword  ;  but,  by  Him  that  loved  us,  we  arise  above  the  midst 
of  them  now,  and  while  troubled  on  every  side,  we  are  not 
distressed;  while  perplexed,  are  not  in  despair:  the  love  of 
Jesus  is  seen  in  these  very  exercises,  and  that  in  very  love, 
and  very  faithfulness,  the  Lord  causeth  us  to  be  afflicted. 
Hence,  through  him,  we  conquer  them  ;  nay,  we  are  more 
than  conquerors.  We  love  him  that  sends  the  affliction,  be- 
cause we  discover  his  love  in  it ;  and  as,  without  that  afflic 
tion,  the  love  of  our  Jesus  in  sending  it  would  in  that  instance 
not  have  been  known,  therefore  here  we  have  a  blessed  vic- 
tory the  church  above  cannot  know.  Precious  Jesus  !  to  thy 
love,  however,  and  thy  grace,  be  all  the  praise  and  all  the 
glory ;  for  under  thy  banner  of  love  alone  it  is  that  we  are 
more  than  conquerors. 


JULY.  185 

7. — Hope  deferred  maketh  the  heart  sick :  but  when  the  desire  cometh 
it  is  a  tree  of  life. — Prov.  xiii.  13. 

Surely,  my  Lord  and  Saviour  is  the  sum  and  substance 
of  this  sweet  verse  !  For  art  thou  not  the  hope  of  Israel,  and 
the  Saviour  thereof?  And  if  thou  deferrest  giving  to  my 
soul  renewed  views  of  thy  pardoning  love,  or  withholdest  the 
renewed  visits  and  manifestations  of  thy  grace,  will  not  my 
soul  languish,  and  my  whole  heart  be  sick?  Can  I,  dear 
Lord,  continue  for  a  moment  in  health  of  soul  without  thee  ? 
And  art  thou  not  my  desire,  when  thou  art  the  desire  of  all 
nations  ?  And  when  thou  comest  to  ray  soul  in  all  thy  free- 
ness,  fulness,  suitableness,  and  all-sufficiency,  art  thou  not  the 
very  Tree  of  Life  in  the  paradise  of  God?  Precious,  pre- 
cious Jesus !  give  me  to  sit  down  under  thy  shadow  with 
great  delight,  for  surely  thy  fruit  is  sweet  to  my  taste.  Do 
not  defer  thy  blessed  visit  to  my  soul  this  morning,  for  thou 
knowest,  Lord,  that  though,  through  thy  grace,  that  sickness 
of  sin  which  is  unto  death,  thou  hast  already  cured  by  the  ap- 
plication of  thy  blood  and  righteousness  :  yet  there  is  a  sick- 
ness not  unto  death,  and  which  my  soul  will  pine  and  lan- 
guish under,  unless  thou  renewest  me  from  day  to  day.  Oh, 
blessed  Jesus,  I  want  every  moment  fresh  manifestations,  re- 
newed discoveries,  of  thy  presence,  grace,  and  favour !  I 
w^ant  to  know  thee  more,  to  love  thee  more,  to  live  to  thee 
more  ;  and  the  deferring  these  precious  mercies  maketh  my 
heart  sick.  Come  then,  thou  blessed  Lord,  with  all  thy  ful- 
ness :  my  desires  are  to  thee,  and  to  the  remembrance  of  thy 
name.  With  my  soul  have  I  desired  thee  in  the  night :  and 
now,  with  the  first  dawn  of  day,  would  I  seek  thee  early. 
And  surely,  when  thou  comest,  as  I  know  thou  wilt  come, 
thou  wilt  be  indeed,  and  in  truth,  the  Tree  of  Life.  Methinks 
my  soul  is  now  opened  by  thee  for  thy  reception  ;  and  there- 
fore. Lord,  do  thou  now  make  such  rich  discoveries  of  thy 
person,  glory,  grace,  and  love,  as  may  fill  every  portion  of 
my  heart.  Nay,  Lord,  I  pray  to  feel  such  goings  forth  of 
my  poor  soul,  in  waiting  for  thy  coming,  that,  like  the  queen 
of  Sheba,  overpowered  in  the  view  of  the  riches  and  wisdom 
of  Solomon,  my  views  of  thy  condescending  grace,  and  a 
sense  of  my  unworthiness  to  be  so  blessed  of  my  God,  may 
melt  my  whole  soul  before  thee,  and,  like  her,  there  may  be 
no  more  spirit  in  me  from  such  ravishing  enjoyments  of  thy 
presence. 

16* 


186  MORNING  PORTION. 

8. — ^Ye  are  my  witnesses,  saith  the  Lord,  and  my  servant  whom  I  have 

chosen. — Isa.  xliii.  10. 

Doth  God  indeed  appeal  to  the  souls  of  his  people  for  the 
truth  of  his  covenant  love  ?  Oh  !  the  gracious  condescension  ! 
It  is  sweet,  it  is  blessed,  and  a  testimony  enough  to  make  the 
heart  of  every  child  of  God  that  possesseth  it  to  leap  for  joy, 
when  the  Spirit  witnesseth  to  our  spirits  that  we  are  the  chil- 
dren of  God.  But  it  is  still  carrying  on  that  blessedness  with 
increasing  delight,  when  the  people  of  God  themselves  be- 
come witnesses  of  covenant  love  and  faithfulness ;  and,  from 
numberless  experiences  in  themselves,  can  and  do  set  to  their 
seals  that  God  is  true.  See  then,  my  soul,  this  morning, 
whether  thou  art  one  of  thy  God's  witnesses,  and  thy  Re- 
deemer, as  the  servant  of  Jehovah,  witnesseth /or  thee,  and  by 
his  sweet  influences  in  thee,  all  that  thine  heart  can  wish  con- 
cerning the  word  of  his  grace,  and  thy  fellowship  and  com- 
munion with  him.  Run  over  a  few  leading  points  in  which 
thou  canst,  and  dost,  bear  witness  for  thy  God.  Did  he  not 
remember  thee  in  thy  low  estate,  when  he  passed  by,  and  bid 
thee  live  ?  Did  he  not  convince  thee  of  sin,  and  put  a  cry  in 
thine  heart  for  salvation  ?  Did  not  God  the  Holy  Ghost  con- 
vincingly prove  to  thee,  both  the  infinite  glories  and  perfec- 
tions of  Jesus,  and  by  his  gracious  leadings  constrain  thee  to 
a  love  towards  him,  dependence  upon  him,  and  a  perfect  ap- 
probation of  having  him  for  thy  Saviour  ?  Did  not  Jesus  so 
graciously  visit  thee,  show  thee  his  love,  his  tenderness,  his 
power,  his  suitableness,  his  all-sufficiency,  as  to  warm  all  thy 
frozen  affections  into  a  warmth  for  him,  and  attachment  to 
him?  And  did  not  thy  God  and  Father,  again  and  again, 
manifest  to  thee  his  covenant  love,  in  accepting  thee  in  Jesus, 
blessing  thee  Avith  all  spiritual  blessings  in  him,  hearing  and 
answering  prayer,  and  proving  by  all  these  tokens  that  he  is 
thy  God,  and  that  thou  art  one  of  his  people.  And  art  thou, 
my  soul,  day  by  day  looking  up  for  salvation  only  in  Jesus, 
and  renouncing  all  other  Saviours  ?  Dost  thou  know  all 
these  precious  things,  my  soul,  and  a  thousand  more  of  the 
like  nature,  in  which  thou  art  bearing  daily  testimony  to  the 
word  of  his  grace  ?  Then  surely  thou  art  one  of  those  to 
whom  Jehovah  appeals  in  the  blessed  scripture  of  the  morn- 
ing. Think  then,  my  soul,  what  an  honour  thou  art  called 
to !  What  a  privilege  is  thine  !  See  to  it,  my  soul,  that 
thou  witness  for  Jesus,  whom  God  hath  given  for  a  witness 
to  the  people.     And  while  Jesus  takes  up  thy  cause  before 


JULY.  187 

the  throne  in  heaven,  do  thou  plead  his  cause,  and  he  valiant 
for  his  truth,  here  upon  earth.  And  do  ye  angels  of  light, 
and  ye  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect,  witness  for  me  that 
this  Lord  is  my  God ! 

9. — But  he  answered  her  not  a  word. — Matt.  xv.  23. 

Mark,  my  soul,  this  feature  in  thy  Redeemer's  conduct 
towards  the  poor  woman  that  so  long  and  so  earnestly  en- 
treated him — Jesus  answered  her  not  a  word.  And  yet, 
from  the  close  of  the  subject,  nothing  can  be  more  evident 
than  that  the  Lord  had  determined,  not  only  to  grant  her  pe- 
tition, but  to  throw  the  reigns  of  government,  concerning  her- 
self, into  her  hands  so  completely,  that  it  should  be  as  she 
would.  Learn  then  from  hence  how  to  interpret  silence  at 
the  throne  upon  every  occasion  of  thine.  In  every  dark  pro- 
vidence, under  every  dispensation  of  grace,  never  forget  that 
Jesus'  love  is  the  same.  What  though  he  answereth  not  a 
word,  yet  his  whole  heart  is  towards  his  redeemed.  What- 
ever frowns  there  may  be  in  outward  things,  there  can  be 
none  in  what  concerns  the  real  happiness  of  his  people.  Jesus 
may  try,  as  in  the  instance  of  this  poor  woman,  the  graces  he 
gives.  Faith  may  be  hard  put  to  it,  and  silence  at  the  throne 
may  make  temptations  and  exercises  of  every  kind  more  sharp 
and  painful.  But  Jesus  is  the  same, — his  love  the  same,  the 
merits  and  efficacy  of  his  blood  and  righteousness  the  same. 
These  speak /or  thee,  my  soul,  though  they  may  not  speak  to 
thee.  That's  a  precious  thought ;  never  forget  it.  And  re- 
member, moreover,  covenant  mercies  are  not  suspended  upon 
our  deserts.  The  free  grace  of  God  in  Christ  depends  not 
upon  the  will  or  the  worth  of  man  ;  according  to  the  beauti- 
ful account  by  the  prophet,  of  the  rain,  or  dew  of  heaven, 
which  waiteth  not  for  man,  neither  tarrieth  for  the  sons  of 
men.  Henceforth,  therefore,  my  soul,  do  thou  learn  to  wait 
at  the  mercy-seat  as  cheerful,  and  with  as  lively  actings  of 
faith,  when  Jesus  answereth  not  a  word,  as  when  thy  peti- 
tions are  all  complied  with.  Men  ought  always  to  pray,  and 
not  to  faint,  saith  one  that  could  not  be  mistaken.  Oh,  for 
grace  and  faith  to  take  God  at  his  word,  and  like  Job  to  say. 
Though  he  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in  him. 


188  MORNING   PORTION. 

10. — And   he  is  before   all   things,  and   by  him  all  things  consist. — 

Coloss.  i.  17. 

How  doth  the  apostle  mean  that  Jesus  is  before  all  things? 
Not  as  God  only,  for  then  the  observation  would  have  been 
needless ;  and  not  as  man  only,  for  then  how  could  all  things 
consist  by  him  ?  What  is  it  then,  my  soul  ?  Is  it  not  as 
Mediator,  both  God  and  man  ?  And  was  not  Christ  thus  set 
up  from  everlasting  ?  Not  openly  revealed  indeed,  neither 
openly  manifested  in  a  body  of  flesh,  until  the  fulness  of  time; 
but  secretly,  and  in  the  divine  counsels.  What  a  blessed 
thought  for  the  redeemed  to  exercise  their  rapturous  medita- 
tions upon !  And  is  it  not  this  which  the  apostle  hath  said, 
He  is  the  image  of  the  invisible  God  1  The  image  !  Yes  ! 
that  representation  of  what  is  in  itself  invisible  ;  that  identical 
image  concerning  which  Jehovah,  when  calling  Adam  into 
existence,  said,  Let  us  make  man  in  our  image,  after  our  like- 
ness. So  then  Adam  was  the  first  man  indeed  openly^  but 
not  so  secretly^  for  it  is  plain  that  Adam  was  made  after  this 
likeness,  which  was  set  up  from  everlasting.  Hence  this 
union  of  natures,  subsisting  in  one  Person,  formed  the  one 
glorious  Mediator,  who  is  and  was  before  all  things,  and  by 
whom  all  things  consist.  Here  is  the  foundation  then  of  the 
church,  and  that  from  everlasting :  without  this,  the  church, 
and  indeed  all  things  beside,  had  wanted  foundation.  For 
there  is  nothmg  created  that  can  stand  out  of  God  ;  and  there 
was  nothing  created  that  could  stand  in  God  by  a  personal 
union,  but  him.  What  a  glorious  thought !  Cherish  it,  my 
soul !  Never  lose  sight  of  it !  In  Christ  the  Mediator,  all 
things  consist.  The  church  is  preserved,  redeemed,  sancti- 
fied, glorified  !  And  how  are  all  his  redeemed  ones  person- 
ally and  individually  secured,  but  by  the  same  ?  By  him 
all  things  consist.  Hence  their  consisting  is  in  him  ;  they 
are  living  in  him,  feeding  on  him,  made  righteous  in  his 
righteousness,  and  hereafter  will  be  glorified  in  his  glory.  My 
soul !  think  what  a  world  of  mysteries  thou  art  in  !  think 
what  an  unspeakable  life  is  a  life  of  grace  here !  think  what 
a  world  of  glory  in  Jesus  hereafter  !  Now  see  if  thou  canst 
better  enter  into  an  apprehension  of  those  divine  words  of  Je- 
sus, Because  I  live,  ye  shall  live  also.  And  again.  At  that 
day  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  in  my  Father,  and  you  in  me, 
and  I  in  you. 


JULY.  189 

11. — If  thou  knewest  the  gift  of  God,  and  who  it  is  that  saith  to  thee, 
Give  me  to  drink  ;  thou  wouldest  have  asked  of  him,  and  he  would 
have  given  thee  living  vrater. — Jo-hn  iv.  10. 

ArtiiDST  a  thousand  precious  things  concerning  Jesus,  there 
are  two  views  of  him  which  are  peculiarly  so,  and  which  those 
words  of  his  to  the  woman  of  Samaria  bring  home  to  the  heart 
in  the  plainest  and  most  blessed  manner.  The  one  is,  who  and 
what  Christ  is  in  himself;  and  the  other  is,  the  Father's  au- 
thority in  him,  so  as  to  give  faith  in  him  a  divine  w^arrant  to 
act  by,  when  a  poor  sinner  comes  to  make  use  of  Christ.  It 
is  our  ignorance  in  those  two  grand  points  concerning  salva- 
tion which  is  the  sad  cause  of  all  our  miseries,  and  the  little 
enjoyment  even  gracious  souls,  for  the  most  part,  have  in 
Jesus.  Now,  my  soul,  do  thou  meditate  upon  both  these 
things,  this  morning,  and,  from  these  sweet  words  of  thy 
Saviour  see  if  thou  dost  not  prove  what  he  so  graciously  saith 
to  be  true.  First,  consider  who  and  what  Jesus  is  as  he  is 
in  himself.  Let  thy  faith  have  for  its  object  of  meditation  the 
Person  and  the  w'ork  of  God  thy  Saviour.  In  all  he  wrought, 
in  all  he  did,  in  all  he  accomplished,  it  was  as  the  surety  of 
his  people.  And  in  all  the  fulness  by  virtue  of  it,  which  is 
treasured  up  in  him,  it  is  not  for  himself,  for  he  cannot  need 
it,  but  it  is  for  his  people.  So  that  a  poor  sinner  is  as  much 
suited  to  Jesus  for  him  to  give  out  of  his  fulness,  as  Jesus  is 
suited  for  a  poor  sinner  to  supply  his  em.ptiness.  And  there- 
fore, if  w^e  did  but  thus  know  him,  and  thus  come  to  him,  we 
should  find  that  he  is  as  earnest  to  receive  every  poor  sinner, 
and  to  give  out  of  his  fulness,  as  that  poor  sinner  can  be  to 
come  and  take.  Now,  my  soul,  when  thou  hast  duly  pon- 
dered over  this,  look  at  Jesus  in  the  other  point  of  view  also, 
as  the  gift  of  God.  Here  thou  hast  a  warrant,  an  authority, 
nay,  a  command,  to  come  to  Jesus,  and  to  make  use  of  him 
for  every  want  w^hich  poverty,  ignorance,  and  sin,  have  occa- 
sioned in  the  circumstances  of  our  fallen  nature.  Christ  is 
the  one  blessed  ordinance  of  heaven  ;  Christ  is  the  one,  and 
the  only  one,  appointed  way  for  a  poor  sinner's  acceptance 
with  God.  And  therefore,  did  a  poor  sinner  always  keep  in 
view  that  Christ  is  the  gift  of  God,  and  that  God  is  honoured 
when  that  poor  sinner  honoureth  his  dear  Son,  by  believing 
the  record  God  hath  given  of  him,  would  not  this  make  every 
poor  sinner  happy,  in  thus  glorifying  God  ?  And  therefore, 
my  soul,  look  to  it  that  this  is  thy  daily  exercise  ;  for  then 
thy  thirst  for  Jesus  will  not  be  supplied,  as  from  a  pool  which 
depends  upon  dry  or  wet  seasons,  but  Jesus  himself  will  give 


190  MORNING   PORTION. 

thee  living  water;  nay,  Jesus  will  himself  be  that  everlast- 
ing- living  spring  in  thee,  which  springeth  up  unto  everlast- 
ing life ! 

12. — And  they  began  to  pray  him  to  depart  out  of  their  coasts.— 
Mark  V.  17. 

And  was  this  Jesus  whom  they  desired  to  depart  ?  Yes  ! 
And  what  had  the  Redeemer  done  to  merit  this  treatment? 
He  had  dispossessed  the  evil  spirit  from  the  mind  of  a  poor 
creature,  and  caused  the  whole  country  to  be  freed  from  the 
fury  of  one  whom  no  chains  could  bind !  Was  this  the 
cause?  Yes !  And  is  it  possible  that  so  divine  an  act  could 
have  had  such  an  effect  upon  the  minds  of  a  whole  body  of 
people?  What,  would  these  Gadarenes  rather  have  the 
devil  raging  among  them,  in  the  person  of  this  poor  creature, 
than  the  Son  of  God  in  the  kindness  of  our  nature?  Pause, 
my  soul.  Is  it  not  the  same  now?  Do  not  men  still  prefer 
the  raging  uncontrolled  lusts  of  their  own  hearts,  the  dominion 
of  Satan,  and  the  customs,  pursuits,  and  follies,  of  the  world, 
to  the  grace,  mercy,  and  sweet  dominion,  of  Jesus  ?  Do  they 
not  in  deed,  if  not  in  words,  say.  Depart  from  us,  we  desire 
not  the  knowledge  of  thy  ways?  Pause  again,  my  soul! 
Was  there  not  a  time  when  the  same  was  thy  case  ?  Indeed 
there  was  ;  and  is  not  every  one  so  by  nature  ?  And  what 
but  an  act  of  grace,  like  the  miracle  Jesus  wrought  on  this 
poor  man,  can  bring  any  one  out  of  it  ?  Art  thou,  my  soul, 
brought  out  of  it?  Yes,  if  so  be,  like  him,  thou  art  now 
sitting  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  clothed,  and  in  thy  right  mind. 
Surely,  Lord,  thou  hast  wrought  this  blessed  change  upon 
me.  Could  I  desire  thee  to  depart  out  of  our  coasts?  Nay ; 
is  it  not  the  daily,  hourly  desire  of  my  heart,  that  thou  wouldst 
be  with  me,  dwell  in  me,  reign  and  rule  in  me,  and  be  my 
portion,  my  God*  my  Saviour,  and  make  me  thine  for  ever? 
Sweet  testimony,  in  the  midst  of  all  my  wanderings,  coldness, 
undeservings.  Cherish  it,  my  soul.  Jesus  will  not  depart 
from  thee.  That  love  which  brought  him  down  from  heaven 
to  save  a  world,  led  him  over  the  lake  of  Genesaret  to  save 
one  poor  sinner.  And  he  who  came  in  love  unsent  for, 
departed  not  until  he  was  sent  away.  Oh,  ye  poor,  blind, 
deluded,  Gadarenes!  Oh,  my  poor,  equally  blind  and  de- 
luded, countrymen  and  fellow-sinners,  who  know  not,  nor 
desire  to  know,  Christ  Jesus  I     Who  are  ye  that  thus  reject 


JULY.  1  9 1 


the  Lord  of  life  and  glory,  and  desire  him  to  depart  out  of 
your  coasts  ? 


3. — This  year  thou  shalt  die. — Jer.  xxviii.  16. 

I  HAVE  often  thought  this  passage,  pronounced  on  the 
lying  prophet,  a  most  suitable  sermon  for  a  birth-day  portion, 
to  be  sounded  in  the  ears  of  the  sinner  :  and  if  qualified  with 
the  possibility  and  probability  which  arise  out  of  our  dying 
circumstances,  it  might,  when  commissioned  by  the  Lord, 
have  a  blessed  effect.  My  soul,  take  it  for  the  meditation  of 
thy  birth-day.  It  may  he  fulfilled  this  year,  it  must  he  fulfilled 
some  year,  it  cannot  he  a  very  distant  year,  and  there  is  a  birth- 
day when  it  shall  he  passed  upon  thee  in  the  year.  And  why 
not  the  present  %  Pause  !  my  soul,  and  meditate  upon  it,  as  if 
this  were  the  very  year.  And  what  though  carnal  men  cele- 
brate the  anniversary  of  their  birth-day,  as  best  suited  to  their 
carnal  minds,  let  thine  be  wholly  spiritual.  If  indeed  a  man 
came  into  the  world  laughing,  there  might  be  a  suitable  cor- 
respondence in  commemorating  the  annual  return  of  such 
a  birth  with  laughing :  but  cries  first  indicate  the  birth  of  a 
poor  helpless  creature  born  to  want,  and  the  subject  of  sin  and 
misery.  Can  rioting  and  folly  be  the  proper  celebration  of 
such  an  event?  And  is  there  no  joy  suitable  on  the  return 
of  a  man's  birth-day?  Oh,  yes,  there  is.  and  ought  to  be, 
real,  heart-felt  joy  with  every  child  of  God.  When  a  man 
begins  to  count  birth-days  in  grace,  ev^ery  return  calls  for  joy 
in  the  Holy  Ghost.  Not  for  that  he  was  born  an  intelligent 
immortal  creature  only,  but  for  that  he  was' made  a  new 
creature  in  Christ  Jesus  ;  not  for  that  he  came  into  the  world 
in  a  state  of  nature  only,  but  for  that  he  was  brought  also 
into  a  state  of  grace ;  not  for  that  he  was  of  the  stock  and 
lineage  of  Adam  only,  but  of  the  seed  of  Christ.  Here  is  an 
alliance  royal,  holy,  heavenly,  divine  !  My  soul !  how  many 
moons  or  years  in  the  new  life  canst  thou  mark  down?  Let 
this  be  the  arithmetic  of  thy  calculation.  And  if,  like  the 
herald  of  the  morning,  the  voice  should  say.  This  year  thou 
shalt  die,  oh !  how  sweet  to  answer.  Lord,  my  times  are  in 
thine  hands.  Can  they  be  in  a  wiser,  or  more  tender,  oi 
more  loving,  hand,  than  Jesus'  ?  Precious  Lord  !  wean  me 
from  everything  here  below,  that  1  may  be  living  nearer  with 
thee,  and  in  thee,  and  to  thee ;  that  as  the  last  year  of  my 


192  MORNING   PORTION. 

pilgrimage  lessens  to  the  month,  and  the  month  to  the  week, 
and  the  week  to  the  day,  nay,  to  the  very  hour  and  moment 
of  my  departure  from  a  body  of  sin  and  death,  the  last  expi- 
ring words  on  my  trembling  lips  may  be  of  Jesus,  and  thine, 
Oh  Lord,  come  home  with  power  and  sweetness  to  my  soul, 
like  thine  to  him  on  the  cross,  To-day  shalt  thou  be  with  me 
in  paradise.  if 

14. — And  I  only  am  escaped  alone  to  tell  thee. — Job  i.  19. 

My  soul,  is  there  nothing  in  this  account  which  the  mes- 
senger to  Job  gave  concerning  himself  which  suits  thy  case 
and  circumstances  ?  Nay,  mayest  thou  not  in  a  great  variety 
of  ways,  both  in  providence  and  grace,  adopt  similar  lan- 
guage, in  which  thou  art  escaped  alone  to  tell  ?  Pause. 
Look  back  to  thy  boyish  daj'S.  Nay,  look  further  back,  even 
to  the  birth  and  to  the  womb ;  for  had  not  the  Lord  carried 
thee  from  thence,  surely  from  the  womb  vvouldest  thou  have 
died  and  given  up  the  ghost.  And  what  was  thy  child- 
hood, but  years  of  peril  and  danger,  in  which  multitudes 
dropped  all  around  thee,  so  that  thou  mightest  say,  while 
contemplating  them,  "  And  I  only  am  escaped  alone  to  tell 
thee."  And  where  are  numbers  with  whom  the  stages  of  thy 
youth,  and  years  at  school  were  spent?  Where  are  they? 
May  it  not  here  again  be  said,  "And  I  only  am  escaped 
alone  to  tell  thee?"  Go  on,  and  trace  the  wonderful  history 
of  the  eventful  path  of  riper  years  ;  through  what  sickness, 
pains,  and  death  hast  thou  passed,  and  mayest  thou  not,  my 
soul,  here  again  cry  out  "  And  I  only  am  escaped  alone  to 
tell?"  Oh,  the  wonders  of  distinguishing  love,  even  in  com- 
mon providences,  towards  his  people,  before  that  the  highly- 
favoured  objects  have  any  consciousness  how  that  love  is 
watching  over  them,  and  whereby  they  are  preserved  to  the 
day  of  their  calling  !  Who  shall  count  the  sum  of  distinguish- 
ing mercy,  in  preserving  and  upholding  providences,  during 
the  whole  of  an  unconverted  state  !  My  soul,  hadst  thou  died 
in  any  one  of  these  perilous  seasons,  (and  how  very  near 
sometimes  hath  death  seemed,)  the  language  of  Job's  mes- 
senger would  not  then  have  been  thine  as  it  is  now,  "  And  I 
only  am  escaped  alone  to  tell  thee."  Pause  once  more.  Art 
thou  now,  my  soul,  indeed  escaped  to  tell  of  converting  grace? 
Canst  thou  now  look  round,  and  amidst  the  dying  and  the 
dead  in  trespasses  and  sins,  ungwakened,  unconcerned,  unre- 
generated,  canst  thou  indeed,  say,  "  And  I  only  am  escaped 


JULY.  193 

alone  to  tell  thee  ?"  Oh  then,  my  soul,  proclaim  with  earnest- 
ness the  glorious  truth,  invite  all  as  far  as  thy  sphere  of  infor- 
mation can  reach,  as  if  thou,  and  thou  alone,  wert  escaped  to 
tell  of  the  wonders  of  redeeming  love;  and  let  thy  daily 
language  be,  "  O  come  hither,  and  hearken  all  ye  that  fear 
God,  and  I  will  tell  you  what  he  hath  done  for  my  soul." 

15. — Rivers  of  waters  run  down  mine  eyes,  because  they  keep  not  thy 
law. — Psalm  cxix.  136. 

Who  is  there  of  whom  this  may  be  said  ?  Jesus,  and  Jesus 
only.  He  wept  indeed  over  his  beloved  Jerusalem,  for  he 
was  a  man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief  And  the 
love  he  had  to  his  redeemed,  induced  a  bloody  sweat  through 
all  the  pores  of  his  sacred  body.  But  of  every  other  may  it 
not  be  said,  All  seek  their  own,  not  the  things  which  are 
Jesus  Christ's.  Did  we  truly  love  Zion,  would  not  rivers  of 
tears  run  down  at  the  present  languishing  state  of  Zion  ? 
Did  we  feel  the  full  sense  of  distinguishing  grace,  would  not 
every  heart  mourn  over  the  ruins  of  our  common  nature? 
Think,  my  soul,  what  a  mass  of  sin  ascends  as  a  cloud  before 
the  view  of  the  Lord  every  day  from  a  single  heart  of  the 
desperately  wicked  transgressor  !  Think  what  an  accumu- 
lation in  a  town,  a  province,  an  empire,  the  world.  Might 
not  rivers  of  water  run  down  at  the  contemplation  ?  And 
worse,  if  possible.  Think  of  that  higher  source  of  sorrow, 
in  that  the  only  possible  remedy  for  this  evil  is  slighted,  and 
Christ,  which  is  God's  one  gracious  ordinance  for  the  recovery 
of  our  ruined  nature,  is  so  little  esteemed  among  men.  Oh 
how  might  the  people  of  God  be  supposed  to  have  their  very 
souls  melted  in  the  contemplation.  This,  this  is  indeed  the 
condemnation  :  this  is  the  soul-destroying  sin,  that  light  is 
come  into  the  world,  and  men  love  darkness  rather  than  light, 
because  their  deeds  are  evil.  Oh  for  grace  to  mourn  over  a 
Christ-despising  genemtion.  Oh  for  the  Deliverer  to  arise 
out  of  Zion,  and  turn  away  ungodliness  from  Jacob. 

16. — I  say  unto  you,  there  is  joy  in  the  presence  of  the  angels  of  God 
over  one  sinner  that  repenteth. — Luke  xv.  10. 

What  a  precious  information  is  this,  which  the  Son  of  God 
hath  given  of  heaven's  joy  over  every  individual  instance  of 
the  recovery  of  our  poor  fallen  nature.  Surely  if  angels  of 
light  thus  participate  in  the  triumphs  of  our  Jesus,  well  may 

17 


194  MORNING    PORTION. 

sinners  rejoice  over  sinners,  whenever  a  single  one  is  awak- 
ened from  darkness  to  light,  and  converted  from  the  power 
of  sin  and  Satan  unto  God.  Think,  ^^-e  ministers  of  my  God, 
what  motives  arise  out  of  this  thought,  to  stir  up  your  most 
earnest  exertions  in  labouring  in  the  word  and  doctrine. 
Ought  it  not  to  be  the  first  and  most  importunate  petition  at 
the  mercy-seat,  whenever  entering  upon  your  labours,  that, 
by  the  Lord's  blessing  upon  you,  new  causes  might  arise  to 
call  forth  this  joy  in  heaven  1  Nay,  ought  it  not  to  be  the 
fervent  prayer  and  hope  of  faith,  at  the  close  of  those  labours, 
and  especially  every  Lord's  day,  that  some  souls  may  have 
been  awakened,  and  angels  may  have  rejoiced  through  your 
instrum.entality  ?  Can  there  be  a  prayer  more  interesting 
upon  earth,  than  when  the  servant  of  Jesus  saith,  "  Lord, 
crown  my  labours  this  day  with  success  ?"  And  can  there  be  a 
subject  to  call  forth  more  animated  praise  than  when  at  the 
close  of  a  sabbath,  you  look  up  and  say,  "  Lord,  have  angels 
rejoiced  this  day  over  the  conversion  of  any  poor  sinner  in 
this  congregation  ?"  And  no  less,  ye  parents  and  guardians 
of  the  rising  generation,  should  the  same  hope  prompt  ye  to 
wrestle  in  prayer  with  God  for  the  sanctification  of  your 
household  ?  Go  on  and  hope  that  answers  are  coming  down 
to  your  earnest  requests.  Perhaps  the  next  joy  in  heaven 
may  be  over  one  for  whom  you  have  now  prayed !  Precious 
Jesus !  it  is  enough.  I  bless  thee.  Lord,  for  this,  among  a 
thousand  other  proofs  of  thy  care  over  us,  that  the  salvation 
of  poor  sinners  adds  new  joy  to  the  felicity  of  heaven,  and 
that  there  is  joy  in  the  presence  of  the  angels  of  God  over 
one  sinner  that  repenteth. 


17. — I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you.  And  if  I  go  and  prepare  a  place 
for  you,  I  will  come  again  and  receive  you  unto  myself,  that  where 
I  am,  there  ye  may  be  also. — John  xiv.  2,  3. 

How  shall  I  ever  sufficiently  enter  into  an  apprehension 
of  the  love  of  Jesus  ?  Much  less,  how  shall  I  ever  sufficient- 
ly love  thee,  and  adore  thee,  thou  unequalled  pattern  of  ex- 
celling love,  blessed,  precious  Jesus?  Was  it  not  enough  to 
have  given  such  palpable  evidences  of  thy  love  in  dying  for 
poor  sinners,  but  must  thou  tell  them  also,  before  thy  depar- 
ture, the  cause  for  which  thou  art  gone  away,  and  to  give 
them  an  assurance,  at  the  same  time,  that  thou  wouldest  come 
again  and  take  them  home  with  thee  to  glory?  Oh  help  me, 
Lord,  to  love  thee,  to  live  to  thee,  to  be  always  on  the  look 


JULY.  195 

out  for  thee,  and  to  rejoice  with  a  joy  unspeakable  in  the  pro- 
mise of  thy  coming.  And,  my  soul,  while  thou  art  taking 
all  the  sweetness  of  those  precious  words  of  thy  Jesus  to  thy- 
self, in  the  prospect  of  his  shortly  coming  to  take  thee  to 
himself,  let  them  also  have  their  full  comfort  under  any  be- 
reaving providences  of  thy  friends.  Wouldest  thou  regret  if 
an  earthly  king  had  conceived  such  a  love  to  any  friend  of 
thine,  that  he  had  sent  for  him  to  advance  him  to  some  high 
dignity,  to  make  him  his  favourite,  and  to  load  him  with  ho- 
nours? Considered  as  to  earthly  accommodations,  would 
this  advancement  of  some  near  and  dear  friend  of  thine  be 
distressing  to  thee,  because  thou  wert  to  see  him  no  more  ? 
Nay,  would  not  the  generosity  of  the  prince  be  highly  ex- 
tolled by  thee,  and  more  especially  if  the  messengers  which 
came  to  fetch  thy  friend  brought  with  them  a  promise,  that, 
ere  long,  a  royal  guard  would  be  sent  to  take  thee  also,  to 
live  with  thy  friend  for  ever,  in  the  king's  palace,  and  under 
the  king's  eye,  both  enjoying  the  royal  favour  ?  But  what 
would  all  this  fading,  dying,  perishing,  and  uncertain  gran- 
deur be,  to  that  which  Jesus  promiseth  in  these  blessed  words 
of  the  morning?  And  hath  Jesus  taken  any  of  thine  home 
to  his  glory?  Are  they  now  at  the  fountain-head  of  blessed- 
ness, and  art  thou  weeping  over  their  breathless  remains? 
Raise  up,  my  soul,  thy  thoughts  from  earth  to  heaven.  Hear 
the  voice  that  speaks,  "  Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the 
Lord."  Keep  up  the  constant  expectation  of  thine  own  call. 
Walk  as  on  the  borders  of  the  invisible  world.  And  above 
all,  so  watch  the  daily  hourly  visits  of  Jesus,  by  his  grace, 
and  enjoy  the  sweet  communion  and  fellowship  in  spirit,  by 
which  he  now  speaks  to  his  people,  and  they  to  him,  that 
when  Jesus  draws  back  the  curtain  of  thy  bed  at  death,  and 
appears  to  thy  ravished  view  in  all  his  glory,  thou  mayest 
leave  the  trembling  body,  and  run  to  his  embraces,  crying 
out,"  My  Lord,  and  my  God  !" 

18. — Take  us  the  foxes,  the  little  foxes  that  spoil  the  vines,  for  our  vines 
have  tender  grapes. — Song  ii.  15. 

My  soul,  mark  the  sweetness  and  tenderness  of  this  pre- 
cept !  Foxes  no  doubt  resemble,  in  this  scripture,  the  subtle, 
less  open,  less  discovered,  sins  and  corruptions  which  lurk 
in  us,  like  these  cunning  creatures,  under  a  covering,  and 
perhaps  sometimes  under  a  fair  covering.  Moreover,  they 
may  mean  also  false  but  fair  teachers.     "  O  Israel,"  said  the 


196  MORNING   PORTION. 

Lord,  "  thy  prophets  are  like  the  foxes  in  the  deserts,"  crafty, 
designing,  malignant,  and  filthy.  And  in  proportion  as  they 
put  on  a  more  fair  and  specious  appearance,  the  more  are 
they  to  be  dreaded.  Satan  never  more  artfully,  nor  perhaps 
more  effectually,  deceives,  than  when  he  is  transformed  into 
an  angel  of  light.  Moreover,  the  precept  is  enforced  by  that 
important  consideration,  that  vines  (by  which,  no  doubt,  are 
meant  believers)  have  tender  grapes.  What  more  tender  than 
a  weak  conscience  ?  And  what  more  liable  to  be  wounded 
than  the  tender  principles  of  young  beginners  in  a  life  of 
grace  ?  My  sou],  look  up  to  Jesus,  the  Lord  of  the  vineyard, 
for  grace  to  be  on  the  look  out  against  these  destructive  ene- 
mies to  thy  welfare.  And,  conscious  that  all  thy  vigilance, 
without  his  watchful  eye  over  thee,  would  never  protect  thee 
from  foes  so  shrewd  and  artful,  beg  of  Jesus  himself  to  take 
these  foxes  for  thee,  and  destroy  them  before  thine  eyes. 
"  Lord,"  I  would  say,  "  keep  me  from  every  enemy  which 
doeth  evil  in  thy  sanctuary,  and  preserve  alive  in  flourishing 
circumstances  all  those  tender  graces  of  thy  Spirit  bestowed 
upon  me,  that  I  may  bring  forth  fruit  to  the  praise  of  thy 
holy  name,  and  may  flourish  and  spread  abroad  as  the  cedar 
of  Lebanon. 

19. — ^Without  me,  ye  can  do  nothing. — John  xv.  5. 

Dear-est  Jesus  !  I  know  this  in  theory,  from  thy  gracious 
teachings,  as  well  as  I  know  that  I  am  by  nature  a  sinner  ; 
but  I  am  for  ever  failing  in  this  knowledge,  when  I  come  to 
put  it  into  practice.  Teach  me.  Lord,  how  to  preserve  the 
constant  remembrance  of  it  upon  my  mind,  that  I  may  never 
go  forth  to  the  holy  warfare  to  subdue  a  single  foe  but  in  thy 
strength,  and  never  make  mention  of  any  thing  but  thy  righ- 
teousness, and  thine  only !  Be  convinced,  my  soul,  every 
day,  more  and  more,  of  this  most  precious  truth,  and  behold 
it  proved  from  all  the  circumstances  around  thee.  See  and 
remark  the  total  inability  either  of  God's  judgments  or  God's 
mercies  to  induce  the  least  alteration  upon  the  heart  of  man, 
without  his  grace.  Behold  the  prosperous  sinner,  bathing  in 
a  full  river  of  blessings:  himself  in  health,  his  circumstances 
flourishing,  his  children  like  olive  branches  round  his  table, 
wealth  pouring  in  upon  him  from  every  quarter ;  and  yet  he 
lives  without  God,  and  without  Christ  in  the  world ;  and  as 
he  lives,  so  he  dies,  in  the  vanity  of  his  mind.  See  him 
amidst  distinguishing  preservations,  in  battles  by  sea  or  land, 


JULY.  197 

still  preserved,  while  floating  carcases,  or  opened  graves,  are 
all  around  hiin :  do  these  things  bring  his  heart  to  God  ?  Not 
in  the  least.  The  sum  total  of  his  character  may  be  com- 
prised in  a  few  words :  Neither  is  God  in  all  his  thoughts. 
Look  at  him  in  the  opposite  side  of  the  representation :  let 
such  an  one  be  visited  with  chastisements  ;  in  his  own  per- 
son, sickness  ;  in  his  family,  misery  ;  in  his  substance,  want ; 
in  short,  in  all  that  concerns  him,  a  life  of  sorrow,  care,  anx- 
iety, disappointment,  ruin  :  perhaps  to  all  these,  a  body  long 
the  dwelling-place  of  some  loathsome  disease,  under  which 
he  groans,  and  at  length  dies,  and  dies  the  same  unawakened 
sinner  as  he  had  lived.  And  suppose  these  accumulated  evils 
had  been  distinguished  also  with  some  more  peculiar  mala- 
dies, in  perils  in  the  sea,  in  perils  in  the  war,  in  perils  among 
men.  Nay,  let  him  be  maimed  in  his  limbs,  let  him  be  rot- 
ting in  a  prison,  let  him  be  worn  out  with  misery  from  evil 
upon  evil,  like  waves  of  the  sea  following  each  other ;  yet 
still  he  continues  the  same  hardened  unsubdued  sinner,  under 
all,  and  as  unconscious  of  God's  rods  as  the  prosperous  sin- 
ner before  described  is  of  God's  blessings.  Are  these  things 
so,  my  soul,  and  hast  thou  seen  them  ?  Yes,  in  numberless 
instances :  Oh  then  learn,  that  without  Jesus  thou  canst  do 
nothing !  Outward  circumstances,  unaccompanied  with  in- 
ward grace,  leave  men  just  where  they  found  them;  and  plain 
it  is,  that  grace  alone  can  change  the  heart.  Lord  Jesus,  let 
these  loud  and  crying  truths  day  by  day  lead  my  soul  to  thee  ! 
Be  thou  all  in  all,  my  hope,  my  guide,  my  strength,  my  por- 
tion ;  for  without  thee  I  can  do  nothing. 


20. — Arise,  and  go  down  to  the  potter's  house,  and  there  I  will  cause 
thee  to  hear  my  words. — Jeremiah  xviii.  2. 

Yes,  Lord,  with  the  first  of  the  morning  will  I  arise,  and 
go  down  at  thy  command,  where,  by  the  secret  and  silent 
whispers  of  thy  divine  teaching,  I  may  gather  suitable  instruc- 
tion for  interpreting  all  thy  dispensations,  both  in  providence 
and  grace,  towards  me  !  Mark,  my  soul,  the  vessel  marred 
in  the  hand  of  the  potter.  Alas !  how  hath  our  nature  been 
marred  since  it  came  out  of  the  hand  of  our  Almighty  Potter  ! 
Will  the  potter  cast  his  vessel  away  1  No,  he  will  new  make 
it.  Oh,  thou  glorious  Lord  !  methinks  I  hear  thy  words  in 
this,  for  thou  hast  not  thrown  us  away,  but  hast  new  made 
us,  and  more  blessedly  made  us,  in  Christ  Jesus.  My  soul, 
art  thou  indeed  thus  new  made,  a  vessel  unto  honour,  sancti- 

17* 


198  MORNING   PORTION. 

fied  and  meet  for  the  Master's  use  ?  Attend  then  to  thy  pro- 
per character,  and  never  lose  sight  of  it.  Refer  every  act  of 
mercy  and  favour  in  thy  original  creation,  in  thy  new  crea- 
tion, when  marred  by  sin,  and  in  all  the  appointments  and 
dispensations,  both  in  nature,  providence,  and  grace,  in  which 
thou  art  placed,  to  the  sovereign  will  and  pleasure  of  Jehovah, 
thine  Almighty  Potter.  All  the  different  forms,  and  the  dif- 
ferent ends,  for  which  the  whole  is  appointed,  result  from  his 
sovereignty,  in  which  the  richest  display  of  wisdom  and  of 
love  is  shown.  Shall  the  thing  formed  say  unto  him  that 
formed  it,  Why  hast  thou  made  me  thus  ?  Much  less  in  any 
of  the  dispensations,  either  in  providence  or  grace,  shall  any 
say,  Why  dost  thou  use  me  thus?  Precious  Jesus!  It  is 
enough  to  be  new  made  in  thee,  to  be  new  formed  in  thy 
blessed  likeness,  to  be  taken  into  thy  service,  and  to  be  made 
a  meet  vessel  for  the  Master's  use  in  thy  family.  Thy  church 
is  as  a  great  and  well- furnished  house,  where  there  are  not 
only  vessels  of  gold  and  of  silver,  but  also  of  wood  and  of 
earth.  And  if  my  Lord  condescend  to  look  on  me,  to  use 
me,  nay,  to  bring  me  into  his  house  and  family,  that  I  may 
be  always  under  his  own  gracious  eye,  how  humble  soever 
the  place,  or  lowly  the  station,  to  belong  to  Jesus  is  the  su- 
preme honour  of  all  his  saints.  My  soul,  make  frequent 
visits  to  the  Potter's  house,  and  never  fail  to  go  down  there 
whenever  any  temptation  from  the  enemy,  or  thine  own  heart, 
causeth  thee  to  forget  thy  creatureship,  and  the  wonders  of  a 
marred  creature  being  new  made  in  Christ  Jesus  ! 

21. — The  righteovis  shall  flourish  like  the  palm  tree. — Psalm  xcii.  12. 

It  forms  a  beautiful  illustration,  which  the  Holy  Ghost 
condescends  to  give  of  a  true  believer's  state,  as  it  stands  be- 
fore God,  in  the  allusion  not  unfrequently  made  in  scripture 
to  that  of  the  palm  tree.  The  direct  tendency  of  the  palm 
tree  is  upwards :  it  lifts  its  head,  in  defiance  of  all  impedi- 
ments, towards  the  clouds.  Now  a  true  believer  in  Jesus  is 
always  looking  upwards,  and  directing  all  his  pursuits  after 
Jesus.  His  person,  blood,  and  righteousness,  are  the  objects 
of  his  desire.  And  as  the  palm  tree  is  said  to  flourish  the 
more  when  trodden  upon,  and  attempted  to  be  crushed,  so  the 
believer  most  oppressed  for  Jesus'  sake,  will  flourish  in  the 
graces  of  the  Spirit  more  abundantly.  How  fruitful  also  is 
the  palm  tree !  And  how  much  the  people  of  God  bring 
forth  fruit  in  their  old  age,  when,  after  long  experience,  they 


JTJLY.  199 

have  found,  that  in  Jesus  alone  their  fruit  is  found !  How 
much  the  palm  tree  likes  sunny  places !  How  precious  the 
Sun  of  Righteousness  is  to  his  people  !  And  as  the  branches 
of  palm  trees  are  worn  in  tokens  of  victory,  so  the  church 
above  are  beheld  with  palms  in  their  hands :  and  the  church 
below  carry  the  palm  of  rejoicing,  when,  from  the  atoning 
blood  and  righteousness  of  Jesus,  they  are  made  more  than 
conquerors  through  Him  that  loved  them.  My  soul,  art  thou 
flourishing  like  the  palm  tree  ?  Yes,  if  so  be  thou  art  planted 
in  Jesus,  and  watered  from  the  streams  of  that  river  which 
maketh  glad  the  city  of  God.  Yes,  if  directing  all  thy  views, 
all  thy  hopes,  all  thy  desires,  to  Jesus,  thou  art  living  in  him, 
acting  faith  upon  him,  making  him  the  Alpha  and  Omega 
of  hope  here,  and  happiness  hereafter.  Blessed  Sun  of  Righ- 
teousness !  shine  with  such  warm,  life-giving,  fruit  imparting, 
beams  of  thy  rich  grace  upon  my  soul,  that  I  may  flourish 
indeed  under  thy  divine  influence ;  and  show  that  the  Lord, 
loho  is  my  rock^  is  upright^  and  that  there  is  no  unrighteous- 
ness in  him. 


22. — These  shall  make  war  with  the  Lamb,  and  the  Lamb  shall  over- 
come them :  for  he  is  Lord  of  lords,  and  King  of  kings  ;  and  they 
that  are  with  him  are  called,  and  chosen,  and  faithful. — Rev.  xvii.  14. 

What  an  awful  thing  must  sin  in  its  own  nature  be,  which 
hath  introduced  such  evil  into  the  whole  creation  of  God,  in 
its  consequences.  One  might  have  hoped,  however,  that  the 
meek  and  gentle  Lamb  of  God  would  have  been  exempt  from 
the  daring  rebellion,  and  that  sin  would  not  have  bid  defiance 
and  waged  war  against  the  peaceable,  and  holy,  and  harm- 
less, Jesus.  But  so  far  is  this  from  being  the  case,  that,  in  all 
probability,  war  first  broke  out  in  heaven  against  the  person 
of  God's  dear  Son,  as  man's  glorious  Head,  and  Mediator, 
even  before  the  deadly  malignity  manifested  itself  against 
God  and  his  Christ  upon  earth,  in  tempting  the  first  man  and 
his  wife  in  the  garden  of  Eden,  to  rebel  against  God.  Pause, 
my  soul,  over  this  scripture.  Who  are  they  here  described 
that  make  war  with  the  Lamb  ?  Nay,  rather,  who  are  they 
not?  All  the  powers  of  darkness,  all  the  varieties  of  the 
earth,  all  the  inhabitants  of  hell,  all  that  are  under  the  influ- 
ence of  that  evil  spirit,  which  now  vvorketh  in  the  children 
of  disobedience.  Under  this  dreadful  banner  of  open  rebel- 
lion against  heaven,  every  man  by  nature  is  enlisted  ;  and 
until  an  act  of  sovereign  grace  and  power  is  past,  and  he  ihaJt 


200  MORNING    PORTION. 

is  Lord  of  lords,  and  King  of  kings,  overcomes,  and  brings 
them  under  his  blessed  dominion,  all  ranks  and  orders  of 
men  are  found.  My  soul,  are  the  weapons  of  sin  fallen  out 
of  thine  hands  ?  Art  thou  brought  under  the  conquests  of 
Christ's  grace?  Hast  thou  bent  the  knee  of  willing  homage 
to  the  Lamb,  who  hath  bought  thee  with  his  blood,  and  made 
thee  his  by  his  grace  ?  Read  thy  character,  if  so,  in  these 
sweet  words,  "  And  they  that  are  with  the  Lamb  are  called, 
and  chosen,  and  faithful."  Art  thou  called  with  an  holy  call- 
ing? Art  thou  chosen,  and  fully  convinced  of  this,  that  had 
not  Jesus  first  chosen  thee,  thou  wouldst  never  have  chosen 
him?  Art  thou  faithful,  in  seeking  and  desiring  no  other 
salvation,  convinced  that  there  is  salvation  in  no  other  ?  Take 
with  thee  then,  my  soul,  these  precious  marks  of  thy  high- 
calling  and  fellowship,  and  see  that  thou  follow  the  Lamb 
withersoever  he  goeth, 

23. — One  like  imto  the  Son  of  man,  clothed  with  a  garment  down  to  the 
foot,  and  girt  about  the  paps  with  a  golden  girdle. — Rev.  i.  13. 

My  soul,  thou  art  going  this  morning  to  the  throne  of  grace, 
art  thou  not?  Pause  then,  and  behold  Jesus,  as  John  saw 
him,  for  the  church's  joy,  in  his  priestly  vestments  ;  for,  re- 
member, he  is  still  a  Priest  upon  his  throne,  and  by  the  oath 
of  Jehovah  abideth  a  Priest  for  ever.  .  Nay,  my  soul,  be  not 
afraid ;  draw  nigh ;  hark,  surely  he  calls.  Methinks  he 
speaks  to  thee — "  Behold  me !  behold  me.  See,  I  am  thine 
intercessor.  For  this  cause  I  wear  these  priestly  garments, 
and,  as  the  high-priest  of  old  represented  me,  I  appear  in 
them  down  to  the  foot,  and  the  golden  girdle  round  and  be- 
neath the  breast.  What  is  thy  cause  ?  What  blessings  and 
praises  hast  thou  to  offer  for  past  grace  ?  And  Avhat  suppli- 
cations for  present  and  future  favours  ?  Behold  my  vesture 
dipped  in  blood.  Think  of  the  everlasting  efficacy  of  my 
righteousness :  and  for  whom  should  I  make  intercession,  but 
for  transgressors  ?"  Fall  down,  my  soul,  with  holy  reve- 
rence and  goldly  fear.  Jesus  will  do  by  thee  as  he  did  by 
John.  He  will  lay  his  right  hand  upon  thee,  and  say.  Fear 
not.  Oh,  precious,  precious  Lord !  thou  art  indeed  he  that 
was  dead,  and  now  livest  for  evermore.  And  thou  livest  to 
see  the  fruits  of  thy  great  salvation  faithfully  and  fully  applied 
to  every  one  of  thy  redeemed.  Thy  priesthood  is  for  ever. 
Thy  intercession  unceasing.  I  do  behold  thee.  Lord,  by 
faith,  even  now  standing  with  the  blood  of  the  covenant  i» 


JULY.  201 

thine  hand,  and  presenting  me,  even  me, — poor,  wretched, 
worthless  me, — as  one  of  the  purchase  of  this  blood  !  Do  I 
not  hear  thy  voice  in  those  soul-reviving  words,  "  Father, 
keep  through  thine  own  name  those  whom  thou  hast  given 
me  ?  Father,  I  will  that  they  also  whom  thou  hast  given 
me,  be  with  me  where  I  am  ?"  Oh,  glorious,  gracious,  al- 
mighty High-priest !  thou  art  indeed  a  Priest  for  ever,  after 
the  order  of  Melchisedec.  Oh,  ye  trembling  souls  !  ye  who 
have  any  cause  this  day  to  bring  before  the  court  of  heaven, 
look  unto  Jesus,  look  within  the  vail,  see  Jesus  there ;  look 
steadily,  though  humbly,  and  behold  his  hands,  his  side ; 
Zion  is  still  engraven  on  his  palms.  Nay,  do  we  not  see, 
may  we  not  read,  our  very  names,  as  the  high-priest  bore  the 
names  of  Israel  on  his  breast,  while  his  hands  were  lifted  up 
to  bless  !  Yes,  Jesus  takes  up  our  cause,  bears  our  persons, 
and  all  our  concerns.  And  how  shall  either  fail,  while  he 
is  able  to  save  to  the  uttermost  all  that  come  to  God  by  him, 
seeing  he  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession. 

24. — The  stranger  did  not  lodge  in  the  street ;  but  I  opened  my  doors  to 
the  traveller. — Job  xxxi.  32. 

Though  Job  was  thus  hospitable,  yet  we  know  that  angels 
would  have  lodged  in  the  street,  if  Lot  had  not  taken  them 
in.  Nay,  the  Lord  of  angels,  when  he  came  a  stranger  upon 
earth,  had  not  where  to  lay  his  head.  He  came  indeed  unto 
his  own,  but  his  own  received  him  not.  My  soul,  pause  ! 
hast  thou  done  better  by  thy  Lord  1  Nay,  thou  hast  not.  And 
though  thou  knowest  the  precept  the  apostle  had  it  in  com- 
mission to  tell  the  church,  not  to  be  forgetful  to  entertain  stran- 
gers, for  thereby,  as  in  the  instance  of  the  patriarch  and 
others,  some  have  entertained  angels  unawares  :  yet,  my  soul, 
how  long  did  the  Lord  of  life  and  glory  stand  without  knock- 
ing at  the  door  of  thine  heart,  by  the  ministry  of  his  word, 
and  ordinances,  saying,  "  Open  to  me :"  yea.  and  would  have 
stood  to  this  hour,  had  he  not,  by  his  own  sovereign  grace,  put 
in  his  hand,  by  the  hole  of  the  door,  and  opened  to  himself 
Oh,  thou  blissful  stranger !  didst  thou,  indeed,  come  from  a 
far  country,  on  this  gracious,  blessed  errand,  to  seek  and  save 
that  which  was  lost ;  and  didst  thou  find  every  h^art  resolutely 
shut  against  thee?  Didst  thou,  blessed  Jesus,  when  travel- 
ling in  the  greatness  of  thy  strength,  open  to  thyself  an  en- 
trance into  the  souls  of  thy  people,  by  the  sweet  and  constrain- 
ing influences  ofthy  holy  Spirit?  Do  thou,  then,  almighty  Lord, 


202  MORNING   PORTION. 

throw  open  the  street-doors  of  my  heart,  for  thy  constant  re- 
ception !  Make  them  like  the  gates  of  that  blessed  city, 
which  are  never  shut,  day  nor  night.  And  cause  my  soul, 
like  the  prophet  on  the  watch-tower,  or  Abraham  in  the  tent 
door,  to  be  always  on  the  look  out  for  my  Lord's  approach,  that 
I  may  invite  thee,  yea,  constrain  thee,  to  come  in,  and  abide 
with  me,  and  to  make  thyself  known  unto  me,  by  the  heart- 
burning discourses  of  thy  word,  and  in  breaking  of  bread, 
and  of  prayer.  Yes,  yes,  thou  glorious  Traveller !  who  art 
perpetually  on  the  visits  of  thy  love,  I  do  know  thee ;  I  do  some- 
times catch  a  sweet  glimpse  of  thee,  and  trace  the  footsteps  of 
thy  grace,  in  thy  word,  in  thy  ordinances,  and  in  the  various 
ways  by  which  thy  presence  is  discoverable.  Indeed,  indeed, 
thou  heavenly  Stranger,  thou  shalt  not  lodge  in  the  street ;  but 
I  will  take  thee  home  to  my  house,  to  my  heart  and  soul ;  and 
thou  shalt  sup  with  me,  and  I  with  thee,  according  to  thine  own 
most  gracious  promise,  and  I  will  cause  thee  to  drink  of  spiced 
wine,  of  the  juice  of  my  pomegranate. 


25. — Thou  art  my  hiding-place. — Psalm  xxii.  7. 

Yea,  dearest  Jesus  !  thou  art  indeed  my  hiding-place.  In 
every  point  of  view  I  desire  grace  so  to  behold  thee.  Surely, 
from  everlasting,  in  thee,  and  thy  person  and  righteousness, 
were  all  thy  redeemed  hid  in  the  counsels  of  peace  and 
salvation.  And  is  not  every  individual  hid  in  thee  also,  oh ! 
thou  glorious  Head  of  thy  church  !  while  in  a  state  of  renewed 
nature,  to  be  secured  from  death  and  the  grave,  and  from  the 
unpardonable  sin  ;  and  as  one  of  the  apostles  terms  it,  pre- 
served in  Christ  Jesus  and  called  ?  And  when  called,  and 
quickened  by  grace,  what  but  from  having  our  lives  hid  with 
Christ  in  God,  could  keep  alive  the  incorruptible  seed,  or  pre- 
serve unextinguished  the  immortal  spark  ?  Whence  is  it, 
my  soul,  that  the  smoking  flax,  which  Satan  and  thine  own 
remaining  indwelling  lusts  strive  to  blow  out,  is  not  quenched ; 
or  the  bruised  reed,  which  appears  so  continually  falling,  is 
not  broken — but  because  Jesus  is  thy  security,  through 
whom,  and  in  whom,  thy  languishing  graces  revive  as  the 
corn,  and  grow  as  the  vine  ?  Oh  !  what  springs  of  grace 
must  there  be  for  ever  flowing  from  Jesus,  though  hidden 
from  mortal  view!  Surely,  Lord,  thou  art  my  hiding-place, 
and  therefore,  with  thy  leave,  I  will  consider  thee  as  a  strong 
Tower,  into  which  the  righteous  runneth  and  is  safe.     Yes, 


JULY.  203 

both  my  person  and  life,  both  my  safety  and  happiness, 
both  my  present  peace  and  everlasting  joy,  all,  all  are  in  thee. 
Doth  any  then  ask  thee,  my  soul,  Where  dwellest  thou  1 
Tell  them,  in  Jesus,  in  the  clefts  of  the  rock,  in  the  se- 
cret places  of  the  stairs,  even  in  Christ  himself  and  his 
justifying  righteousness  ;  secret  and  hidden  indeed  from  mere 
men  of  the  world,  but  revealed  from  faith  to  faith  to  all  his 
redeemed  ;  and  into  which,  tell  them,  thou  hast  found  shel- 
ter from  the  broken  law  of  God,  from  the  dreadful  effects  of 
sin,  from  death,  from  hell,  and  all  the  powers  of  darkness. 
And  all  these,  and  numberless  other  unknown  blessings, 
because  Christ  is  my  hiding-place,  who  hath  both  preserved 
me  from  trouble,  and  hath  compassed  me  about  with  songs 
of  deliverance. 


26. — Aud  there  wrestled  a  man  with  him  until  the  breaking  of  the  day. — 
Genesis  xxxii.  24. 

My  soul!  here  is  a  lovely  portion  for  the  morning.  For 
the  morning  did  I  say  ?  Yea,  both  for  night  and  morning, 
and,  indeed,  until  the  everlasting  morning  break  in  upon 
thee,  and  all  the  shadows  of  the  night  flee  away.  For  are 
not  all  the  seed  of  Jacob,  like  their  father,  wrestlers  in  the 
actings  of  faith  and  the  favour  of  pra3'er,  until  they  come  off, 
like  him,  prevailing  Israels?  And  who  was  this  man  which 
wrestled  with  the  patriarch  ?  Let  scripture  explain  scripture, 
and  give  the  answer.  "  By  his  strength,"  said  the  prophet  Ro- 
sea, (chap.  xii.  3,  &c.)  "  he  had  power  with  God  ;  yea,  he  had 
power  over  the  angel,  and  prevailed ;  he  wept,  and  made  sup- 
plication unto  him :  he  found  him  in  Bethel,  and  there  he  spake 
with  us ;  even  the  Lord  God  of  hosts,  the  Lord  is  his  memorial," 
Here  then  light  is  thrown  upon  the  subject.  He  that  is 
called  a  man  in  one  scripture,  is  called  an  a/igel  in  this  other. 
And  that  we  might  not  overlook  nor  forget  the  identity  of 
his  Person,  as  the  very  man  whose  name  was  then  secret, 
(Judges  xiii.  18,)  but  hereafter  to  be  made  known,  and  him- 
self appear  openly,  the  prophet  was  commissioned  to  tell  the 
church  that  he  that  spake  with  us,  in  the  person  of  Jacob  our 
father,  was  the  same  that  found  Jacob  in  Bethel,  even  the 
Lord  God  of  hosts  ;  for  that  was  his  memorial.  Gen.  xxviii. 
10,  19.  And  was  it  then  He,  whose  name  is  Wonderful, 
which  wrestled  with  Jacob  ?  And  when  the  poor  patriarch 
was  hard  put  to  it,  full  of  fears,  doubts,  and  distresses,  on  ac- 
count of  his  brother  Esau,  and  was  stirring  up  himself  to 


204  MORNING   PORTION. 

take  hold  of  God's  strength,  by  way  of  strengthening  himself 
against  Esau,  did  he  that  came  to  strengthen  him,  first  take 
hold  of  him,  and  seem  to  contend  with  him,  until  the  break- 
ing of  the  day?  Oh,  then,  my  soul,  here  learn  a  sweet  and 
precious  lesson  against  the  hour  of  the  many  contentions  with 
the  Esaus  of  thy  warfare;  for  thou  wrestlest  not  only  against 
flesh  and  blood,  but  against  principalities  and  powers,  against 
the  rulers  of  the  darkness  of  this  world,  against  spiritual 
wickedness  in  high  places.  See,  my  soul,  where  thy  strength 
is — even  in  Jesus.  See  what  a  blessed  example  of  prevailing 
in  prayer  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  here  set  before  thee.  Look 
to  this  God-man,  with  whom  Jacob  wrestled  and  came  off 
successful,  and  say  with  Job,  Will  he  plead  against  me  with 
his  great  strength?  No,  but  he  will  put  strength  in  me. 
Job  xxiii.  2,  7.  Fill  thy  mouth  with  arguments,  as  Job  did. 
Tell  Jesus  of  thy  wants :  tell  him  of  his  riches,  tell  him  of 
thy  guilt,  tell  him  of  his  precious  blood  and  righteousness  ; 
and  tell  him,  that  thy  misery,  and  weakness,  and  un worthi- 
ness, renders  thee  a  suitable  sinner  for  so  gracious  a  Saviour 
to  get  glory  by  in  saving.  Go  to  him,  my  soul,  with  these 
strong,  these  unanswerable  pleas.  Jesus  will  love  to  hear 
and  to  receive  them.  And  while  he  wrestles  with  thee,  do 
thou  wrestle  with  him,  all  the  night,  in  which  thou  art  con- 
tending with  thy  sins  within  and  temptations  without,  with 
the  errors  of  the  infidel,  and  the  crying  sins  of  the  profane. 
And  do  as  Jacob  did,  wrestle,  plead,  supplicate,  cry,  and  take 
hold  of  his  strength,  his  blood,  his  righteousness,  and  God 
the  Father's  covenant-promises  in  him  ;  and  never  give  over, 
nor  let  him  go,  until  the  day  break  and  he  blesseth  thee. 


27. — That  thy  trust  may  be  in  the  Lord,  I  have  made  known  to  thee 
this  day,  even  to  thee. — Prov.  xxii.  19. 

My  soul,  mark  for  thy  morning  meditation  what  is  here 
said.  Observe,  in  the  first  place,  the  general  knowledge  the 
Lord  hath  given  of  his  saving  truth  and  mercies  in  Christ 
Jesus,  and  which  becomes  a  sufficient  warrant  and  authority 
for  all  the  world  to  believe  in  Christ,  and  to  accept  of  Christ, 
to  the  salvation  of  the  soul.  Christ  in  the  word  is  the  Fa- 
ther's authority  for  every  sinner  to  believe  the  record  God 
hath  given  of  his  Son ;  and  the  rejection  of  this  command 
will  be  the  condemning  sin  to  every  one  who  despises  this 
plan  of  salvation,  because  he  hath  heard,  and  then  turned  his 
back  upon  this  love  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord.     My 


JULY.  205 

soul,  ponder  over  this  view  of  the  subject,  and  then  turn  to 
another  sweet  and  distinguishing  property  of  God's  revela- 
tion, which  he  makes  by  his  blessed  Spirit,  in  the  particular 
apprehension  of  it.  And  this  is  done  in  every  heart  that  is 
made  willing  in  the  day  of  God's  power,  when  the  same 
grace  which  reveals  Christ  in  the  word,  reveals  Christ  also 
in  the  heart,  the  hope  of  glory.  Here  the  verse  of  the 
morning  is  confirmed,  in  what  God  saith,  that  in  order  to 
every  child  of  God  putting  his  trust  in  the  Lord,  he  hath 
made  known  to  thee,  even  to  thee,  this  day.  Observe,  my 
soul,  the  personal  application  of  the  divine  truth.  God,  by 
his  Spirit,  makes  it  known  to  thee.  It  comes  like  a  present 
sent  down  from  heaven.  Who  is  it  for  ?  Read  the  direction. 
It  is  for  thee,  my  soul.  Thus  faith  takes  home  the  contents 
to  the  heart,  and  finding  how  exactly  every  thing  in  Jesus 
and  his  salvation  suits  his  own  case  and  circumstances,  he 
lives  upon  it.  feeds  upon  it,  takes  it  for  his  portion,  trusts  in 
God  for  the  truth  of  it,  and  rejoiceth  evermore.  My  soul, 
hast  thou  marked  these  distinct  things?  And  dost  thou  know 
how  to  distinguish  rightly  between  general  proclamations  of 
mercy,  and  special  personal  enjoyments  of  if?  Oh,  then,  live 
up  to  the  full  enjoyment  of  God's  rich  mercy  in  Christ ;  ac- 
cept Christ,  and  use  Christ,  daily,  hourly,  to  the  glory  of 
Father,  Son,  and  Spirit,  as  the  redemption  by  Christ  was  in- 
tended ;  and  bless  God  more  and  more  for  his  unspeakable 
gift. 


28. — As  an  eagle  stirreth  tip  her  nest,  fluttereth  over  her  young,  spread- 
eth  abroad  her  wings,  taketh  them,  beareth  them  on  her  wings  ;  so 
the  Lord  alone  did  lead  him. — Deut.  xxxii.  11,  12. 

Here  learn  a  lesson,  to  form  some  faint  idea  how  the  Lord 
is  unceasingly  engaged  in  taking  care  of  his  people.  If  thy 
God  condescends  to  represent  it  by  such  a  similitude,  is  it  not 
both  thy  privilege  and  thy  duty  to  mark  the  several  particu- 
lars of  such  grace  and  tenderness?  The  eagle  not  only 
possesseth,  in  common  with  other  creatures,  the  greatest  af- 
fection for  her  young,  but  manifests  a  vast  superiority  over 
every  other  of  the  winged  tribe,  in  her  management  of  her 
brood.  She  provides  for  them  and  protects  them,  as  other 
birds  of  the  air  do  :  but  in  educating  them,  and  the  method 
by  which  she  shelters  them  from  danger,  here  is  displayed 
such  superior  wisdom  and  power  as  far  exceeds  whatever  we 
meet  with  in  other  creatures.     She  stirreth  up  her  nest :  by 

18 


206  MORNING   PORTION. 

which  we  may  understand,  she  suffers  not  the  young  eagles 
to  lay  sleeping,  but  calls  them  forth  to  Jife  and  exercise.  She 
jluUereth  over  thein^  as  if  to  show  them  how  they  are  to  use 
their  wings,  and  fly.  And  when  she  taketh  them  from  the 
nest,  this  is  not  done  like  other  birds  who  carry  their  young 
in  their  talons,  and  in  their  haste  or  flight  may  drop  them — 
or,  when  pursued  or  fired  at  by  an  enemj?',  may  have  them 
killed  and  herself  not  hurt ;  but  the  eagle  beareth  her  young 
on  her  wings,  so  that  no  arrow  from  beneath  can  touch  the 
young,  until  it  hath  first  pierced  through  the  heart  of  the  old 
bird.  What  a  sweet  thought  do  these  views  afford ;  and 
what  a  blessed  instruction  do  they  bring !  My  soul,  do  they 
not  teach  thee,  since  the  similitude  is  the  Lord's  own,  that 
He  that  hath  stirred  up  the  nest  of  thine  old  nature,  in  which 
thou  wast  born,  because  he  would  not  suffer  thee  to  sleep 
there  for  ever  in  the  unawakened  state  of  sin,  and  hath 
brought  thee  out,  and  brought  thee  abroad,  and  taught  thee 
how  to  fly  up,  in  devout  aspirations  after  him,  is  the  Lord? 
Is  it  not  he  that  fed  thee  and  sustained  thee  from  thy  youth, 
even  until  now;  taught  thee,  and  hovered  over  thee,  and 
caused  thee  to  mount  up  as  upon  the  wings  of  eagles ; 
to  run,  and  not  to  weary;  to  walk,  and  not  faint?  Yes, 
yes,  blessed  Jesus  !  it  is  thou  that  hast  indeed  borne  me, 
as  thou  hast  said,  upon  eagles'  wings,  and  brought  me 
to  thyself:  so  that  I  see,  by  this  delightful  comparison,  that 
thou  wilt  not  suffer  any  of  thy  little  ones  to  perish :  for  he 
that  toucheth  them,  toucheth  the  apple  of  thine  eye — nay, 
while  on  thy  wings,  he  that  destroyeth  them,  must  first  de- 
stroy thee  !  Oh  !  Lord,  give  me  grace  rightly  to  enjoy  and 
use  such  marvellous  blessings.  And  since,  to  the  wisdom 
and  strength  of  the  eagle,  thou  hast  now  added  the  tender- 
ness and  solicitude  of  the  hen,  do  thou,  Lord,  gather  me  un- 
der thy  wings,  and  nourish  me  with  thy  love  and  favour, 
that  I  may  be  thine  for  ever,  and  live  here  by  faith,  as  here- 
after I  hope  to  live  with  thee  in  glory ! 

29. — We,  being  many,  are  one  body  in  Christ. — Rom.  xii.  5. 

One  of  the  most  delightful  of  all  thoughts,  and  which 
when  fully  enjoyed  under  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
gives  an  unspeakable  felicity  in  the  heart,  is  that  union  and 
fellowship  of  Christ  with  his  church.  Ponder  it,  my  soul, 
this  morning.  All  the  members  of  Christ's  body  are  but  one 
body,  the  apostle  saith,  in  Christ ;  and  he  is  the  Head  over 


JULY.  207 

all  things  to  the  Church,  which  is  his  body,  the  fulness  of 
Him  that  filleth  all  in  all.  I  would  never,  if  possible,  lose 
sight  of  this,  because  in  the  perfect  conviction  and  assurance 
of  it  must  be  found  all  our  security  and  joy.  And  the  way 
by  which  this  blessed  truth,  under  divine  teaching,  will  be 
kept  alive  in  the  soul,  is  this :  I  would  behold  myself  what  I 
am  by  nature  anc^  practice  in  Adam,  and  connect  by  this 
view  what  I  am  by  grace  and  faith  in  Christ.  Now  as  Adam 
was  the  common  head  of  all  his  seed  in  nature,  equally  so  is 
Christ  the  common  head  of  all  his  seed  in  grace.  Do  I  con- 
sider that,  when  Adam  sinned  in  the  garden,  I  as  one  of  his 
children,  and  then  (as  scripture  saith  of  Levi,  in  respect  to 
his  connexion  with  Abraham)  was  in  his  loins,  part  of  him- 
self, and  consequently  implicated  and  involved  in  all  the 
good  or  bad  belonging  to  him  ?  then  it  will  follow,  that  in 
Adam's  sin  I  sinned,  and  in  Adam's  condemnation  I  was  in- 
cluded. So  then,  as  Adam  did  not  transgress  only  for  him- 
self, but  for  all  his  seed  by  nature  that  should  come  from 
him  ;  equally  so  when  Christ  fulfilled  all  righteousness,  and 
when  Christ  expiated  all  sin  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself,  his 
seed  were  considered  righteous  in  him ;  and  his  expiatory 
sacrifice,  as  the  Head  of  his  people,  must  be,  to  all  intents 
and  purposes,  the  same  as  if  they  had  been  sacrificed  with 
him.  Cherish  this  thought,  my  soul !  and  never  allow  thy- 
self to  behold  Christ  as  the  Christ  of  God,  in  the  capacity  of 
a  private  or  single  person,  but  as  the  Covenant-Head,  the 
Father's  Chosen,  the  Sent,  the  Sealed,  the  Anointed  of  God, 
in  whom  all  his  members  are  one  body  in  Christ.  See  that 
thou  hast  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  by  which  thou  art  proved  to  be 
one  of  his !  And  for  the  full  enjoyment  of  all  the  blessings 
contained  in  this  union  and  communion  with  thy  glorious 
Head,  daily  and  hourly  remind  God  thy  Father  of  all  his 
covenant  promises  made  to  Christ  as  the  Head  of  his  church 
and  people,  in  which  the  Lord  hath  said,  "I  will  pour  my 
Spirit  upon  thy  seed,  and  my  blessing  upon  thine  offspring." 

30. — My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee. — 2  Cor.  xxii.  9. 

My  soul !  gather  a  rich  cluster  this  morning  of  those  pre- 
cious fruits,  which  hang  upon  the  Tree  of  Life — even  upon 
Jesus.  Thou  wilt  find  their  taste  more  sweet  and  pleasant 
than  all  the  branches  of  the  vine.  Consider  the  fulness  in 
thy  Lord.  Such  a  fulness  indeed,  by  virtue  of  the  covenant 
engagements  in  Jehovah,  is  treasured  up  in  Christ,  that  all 


208  MORNING   PORTION. 

the  grace  every  individual  of  his  seed  could  possibly  want  in 
time,  and  all  the  glory  hereafter — all,  all  is  lodged  in  him. 
What  a  thought  is  here!  Consider  also  the  free?ies<i  of  this 
grace.  Never,  surely,  did  God  give  any  gift  more  free  than 
when  he  gave  his  Son.  And,  as  the  apostle  from  hence 
justly  reasons,  "  He  that  spared  not  his  own  son,  but  de- 
livered him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he«iot  with  him  freely 
give  us  all  things  ?  When,  my  soul,  thou  hast  feasted  thy- 
self upon  the  fulness  and  freeness  of  the  fruits  of  Jesus'  rich 
salvation,  gather  another  rich  portion  for  thyself,  with  the 
hand  of  faith,  in  the  suitableness  and  sujfficiency  there  is  in  him 
for  thee.  Take  the  sweet  words  spoken  here  to  Paul,  but 
not  limited  to  Paul,  as  if  personally  addressed  to  thyself  It 
is  Jesus  now  speaks  and  saith  this  day,  "  My  grace  is  suffi- 
cient for  thee."  Which  is  as  if  he  had  said,  all  the  grace  I 
have  is  for  my  people ;  and  I  have  not  only  enough  for  all, 
but  for  every  one ;  and  I  have  it  for  thee ;  I  have  the  very 
portion  which  I  knew  each  would  want  every  day,  and  all 
the  day,  through  the  whole  of  their  pilgrimage  state :  from 
everlasting  I  knew  their  need ;  and  from  everlasting  I  have 
laid  every  individual  child's  portion  by,  and  do  keep  it  for 
him  to  the  moment  required  ;  and  each  shall  find  a  suited 
sufficiency,  exactly  answering  to  all  their  wants,  and  corres- 
ponding to  all  their  necessities.  Precious  thought!  Hence- 
forth, my  soul,  cast  all  thy  care  upon  Jesus ;  for  thou  now 
seest  how  he  careth  for  thee.  Morning  by  morning  hear  his 
voice,  speaking  personally  to  thyself,  "  My  grace  is  sufficient 
for  thee." 

31. — Watchman,  what  of  the  night  ?     Watchman,  what  of  the  night. — 
Isaiah  xxi.  11. 

While  this  solemn  inquiry  may  be  supposed  to  have  pecu- 
liar reference,  as  addressed  to  the  servants  of  the  Lord,  whom 
he  hath  set  as  watchmen  upon  the  walls  of  Zion,  may  it  not 
be  made  personaUy  to  every  man's  bosom  also,  as  it  refers  to 
himself?  And  the  repeating  of  it  twice  should  seem  to  im- 
ply the  importance  and  earnestness  with  which  it  should  be 
followed  up.  My  soul !  What  is  the  night  with  thee?  Art 
thou  watching  in  it  more  than  they  that  vratch  for  the  morn- 
ing; yea,  I  say,  more  than  they  which  watch  for  the  morn- 
ing ?  How  art  thou  exercising  this  watchfulness  ?  Is  all  safe 
respecting  thine  everlasting  welfare  ?    Art  thou  watching  the 


AUGUST.  209 

approaches  of  the  enemy  ?  Art  thou  watchful  in  prayer  ; 
watchful  for  the  gracious  moments  of  the  Spirit's  helping  thee 
in  prayer :  watchful  in  guiding  thee  in  the  exercise  of  it ; 
watchful  of  the  Lord's  gracious  answers  to  prayer:  and,  like 
the  prophet  on  the  watch-tower,  having  given  in  thy  petition 
to  the  heavenly  court,  into  the  hands  of  the  High-priest  and 
Intercessor,  art  thou  waiting  to  see  what  the  Lord  will  say 
unto  thee  ?  Lord,  make  me  eminently  watchful  in  these 
things.  Go  on,  my  soul,  in  this  heart-searching  inquiry. 
Art  thou  waiting  and  watching  thy  Lord's  return?  What 
of  the  night  is  it  now  ?  May  not  Jesus  come  at  even,  or  at 
midnight,  or  at  cock-crowing,  or  in  the  morning?  Pause, 
my  soul !  Suppose  his  chariot-wheels  were  at  the  door, 
wouldest  thou  arise  with  holy  joy,  crying  out,  "It  is  the  voice 
of  my  Beloved,"  saying  "  Behold,  I  come  quickly  ?"  And 
wouldest  thou  answer,  "  Even  so,  come.  Lord  Jesus  ?"  Oh ! 
for  grace  to  be  of  that  happy  number,  of  whom  the  Lord  him- 
self saith,  '•  Blessed  are  those  servants  whom,  at  his  coming, 
he  shall  find  so  doinar." 


AUGUST. 


1. — In  thy  name  shall  they  rejoice  all  the  day  ;  and  in  thy  righteous- 
ness shall  they  be  exalted. — Psalm  Ixxxix.  16. 

See,  my  soul,  what  a  blessed  cause  is  again  before  thee  to 
begin  the  month,  and  to  carry  it  on  through  every  day,  and 
all  the  day,  and  in  every  part  of  the  day,  for  joy  in  the  name 
and  righteousness  of  Jesus.  And  mark  it  with  peculiar  em- 
phasis, that  it  is  Jesus,  as  Jesus  the  Christ  of  God ;  and  his 
righteousness  as  the  righteousness  of  God,  in  which  all  thy 
rejoicing  is,  and  not  in  the  finest  frames  or  spiritual  exercises 
of  thine  own.  A  daily  sense  of  a  need  of  Christ,  and  as  con- 
stant a  sense  of  acting  faith  upon  Christ ;  these  form  the  foun- 
dation of  every  true  believer's  joy,  and  make  the  savour  of 
Christ's  name  like  ointment  poured  forth,  And  whence  is 
it,  my  soul,  that  all  the  redeemed  are  said  to  rejoice  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord  all  the  day,  but  because  the  Lord  hath 


210  MORNING   PORTION. 

saved  them  and  redeemed  them  for  his  name's  sake  ?  And 
whence  is  it  said,  that  in  his  righteousness  they  shall  be  ex- 
alted, but  because  from  their  union  with  Christ,  as  their  spir- 
itual Head,  they  are  accepted  in  his  righteousness,  and  are 
made  the  righteousness  of  God  in  him !  Here's  an  exalta- 
tion indeed,  enough  to  make  the  heart  of  the  most  sorrowful 
glad,  let  outward  circumstances  be  what  they  may,  when  in- 
ward joy  and  peace  in  believing  give  such  a  blessedness  to 
the  believer's  view  of  the  name  of  Jesus.  See  to  it  then,  my 
soul,  that  all  thy  fresh  springs  of  joy  are  in  him.  Be  very 
jealous  over  thyself,  in  the  happiest  moments  of  thy  comfort, 
that  Christ's  name,  and  his  righteousness  and  salvation,  lie  at 
the  bottom  of  thy  joy.  Where  is  Jesus  ?  I  would  ask  my 
heart,  when  I  am  most  at  ease  and  happy  ?  Is  He  in  this 
happiness  ?  And  is  this  happiness  enjoyed,  and  enjoyed 
purely,  because  Christ  is  in  it  ?  Trace  this,  my  soul,  through 
all  the  parts  of  salvation,  and  through  all  thy  paths  in  grace, 
and  see  whether  thou  art  bottoming  every  hope  and  every 
mercy,  both  for  time  and  eternity,  in  the  name  and  righteous- 
ness of  Jesus  only  :  for,  depend  upon  it,  as  Jehovah  hath  said, 
in  pardoning  and  blotting  out  the  transgressions  of  his  people, 
"  I,  even  I,  am  he  that  blotteth  out  thy  transgressions  for  my 
name's  sake  ;"  so  it  is  to  the  everlasting  praise  of  his  name, 
that  all  the  glory  of  salvation  is,  and  must  be,  ascribed. 
Nevertheless,  he  saved  them  for  his  name's  sake,  that  he 
might  make  his  mighty  power  to  be  known ! 


2. — My  Father  is  the  husbandman. — John  xv.  1. 

Blessed  truth,  and  blessed  assurance,  to  the  true  follow- 
ers of  Jesus  !  Yes,  Almighty  Father !  I  would  pray  for 
thy  continual  teaching,  to  behold  thee  as  the  Husbandman  of 
thy  vineyard  the  church,  in  which  thou  hast  raised  up  the 
Plant  of  Renown,  the  Man  whose  name  is  the  Branch,  the 
true  Vine,  in  whom,  and  upon  whom,  and  through  whom, 
all  thy  redeemed,  taken  from  the  olive-tree  that  is  wild  by 
nature,  are  grafted,  and  bring  forth  fruit  unto  God.  Yes, 
Almighty  Father  !  I  would  desire  grace  to  behold  thee,  and 
while  I  behold,  to  love,  to  praise,  to  adore  thee,  that  from 
everlasting  thou  hast  graciously  been  the  Husbandman  of 
thy  church.  It  was  in  thee,  and  from  thee,  as  the  contriver 
and  appointer  of  all  that  concerned  redemption,  we  trace  the 
fountain  and  source  of  all  that  grace,  mercy,  peace,  and 
favour  here,  with  all  the  unknown  treasures  of  glory  here- 


AUGUST.  211 

after,  which  thou  hast  placed  in  His  most  blessed  hands,  who 
is  the  Lord  our  Righteousness.  In  every  renewed  view  of 
Jesus,  as  the  true  Vine  which  thou  hast  planted  ;  and  in 
every  renewed  communication,  from  his  fulness,  nourish- 
ment, and  life-imparting  influences ;  may  it  be  my  happy 
portion.  Oh  Lord,  to  eye  thee  as  the  Husbandman,  while  I 
feel  and  know  my  union  in  Jesus  as  the  Vine..  And  do  thou, 
most  gracious  God  and  Father,  condescend  to  act  the  part  of 
the  kind  Husbandman  still.  Let  thine  eyes  be  upon  me  for 
good,  as  the  Husbandman  visits  his  vineyard.  Water,  Lord, 
with  the  heavenly  dew  of  thy  word  and  Spirit,  the  dry  and 
languishing  plantation.  Oh,  that  the  Lord  may  give  showers 
of  blessings,  and  that  he  may  be  to  me  as  the  latter  and  as  the 
former  rain,  upon  the  barrenness  of  my  heart.  Preserve  me, 
Lord,  from  the  wild  boar  of  the  wood,  even  Satan,  that  he 
may  never  tread  me  down.  Weed  out,  Lord,  the  briars  and 
thorns,  even  the  corruptions  of  my  own  heart,  which  would 
twine  themselves  with  the  tender  branches.  And  lop  off.  Oh 
Lord,  all  the  superfluous  shoots,  even  the  world's  enticements, 
which  might  prevent  fruitfulness  in  Jesus.  In  all  things, 
blessed  God  and  Father !  be  thou  the  kind,  the  tender,  the 
wise  Husbandman,  in  doing  for  me  what  thou  seest  to  be 
needful,  however  painful  to  flesh  and  blood  thy  pruning  dis- 
pen.sations  and  wintry  providences  may  be  found.  Do  thou 
purge,  as  Jesus  hath  said,  every  branch  that  beareth  fruit,  that 
it  may  bring  forth  more  fruit:  and  by  thy  gracious  Spirit 
80  cause  me  to  abide  in  Christ,  and  that  Christ  may  abide  in 
me,  that  thou,  my  God  and  Father,  mayest  be  glorified  in  my 
bearing  much  fruit,  to  the  praise  of  thy  grace,  wherein  thou 
hast  made  me  accepted  in  the  Beloved. 

3. — Now  I  know  that  thou  fearest  God,  seeing  thou  hast  not  withheld 
thy  son,  thine  only  son,  from  me. — Gen.  xxii.  12. 

My  soul,  ponder  these  words.  By  whom  were  they 
spoken?  It  is  said  by  the  angel  of  the  Lord!  Probably 
the  Messenger  of  the  covenant :  He  who,  in  the  fulness  of 
time,  was  to  make  known,  face  to  face,  to  all  Abraham's 
seed,  the  whole  revelation  of  Jehovah  concerning  redemp- 
tion !  It  was  a  critical  moment  in  Abraham's  life,  and  a 
trying  moment  to  his  faith.  It  is  said,  "Now  I  know." 
Did  not  the  Lord  know  before  ?  Oh !  yes :  but  He  that 
gave  Abraham  the  faith,  now  afforded  an  opportunity  foa:  the 
exercise  of  it.     My  soul,  how  blessed  is  it  to  remark,  that 


212  MORNING   PORTION. 

the  largest  gifts  of  grace  are  dispensed  when  there  is  the 
largest  occasion  for  them.  As  thy  days,  so  shall  thy  strength 
be.  And,  my  soul !  do  not  forget  to  remark  also,  that  our 
Isaacs,  our  children,  our  earthly  comforts,  are  most  likely  to 
be  continued  to  us,  when  the  Lord  gives  grace  and  faith  to 
be  most  ready  at  his  holy  will  to  part  with  them.  When  I 
can  say,  Lord,  all  that  thou  hast  given  me  is  thine ;  and  if 
thou  art  pleased  to  take  all,  or  any  part,  back  again,  still  it  is 
thine  own — not  mine,  but  lent.  Oh !  for  grace,  like  Abra- 
ham, to  bless  a  taking  God  as  well  as  a  giving  God,  and  to 
withhold  nothing  from  him.  Pause,  my  soul,  one  moment 
longer  over  this  precious  portion !  Is  there  nothing  more  to 
be  gathered  from  it?  Look  again.  Read  it  over  once  more. 
Pass  beyond  Abraham,  and  contemplate  the  God  of  Abra- 
ham, and  see  if  thou  canst  not  discover  the  infinite,  un- 
equalled, astonishing  love  of  God  the  Father  typified  in  this 
solemn  transaction :  and  while  we  behold  Abraham,  at  the 
call  of  God,  giving  up  his  son,  his  only  son,  may  we  not  be- 
hold God,  uncalled,  unsought,  and  without  any  one  cause 
but  his  own  free,  everlasting  love,  giving  up  his  only  be- 
gotten Son,  as  a  sacrifice  for  the  redemption  of  his  people? 
The  patriarch  gave  up  his  son  but  in  intention ;  but  God,  in 
reality.  And,  my  soul,  what  oughtest  thou  now  to  say  to 
God  in  the  view  of  this  transaction  ?  Methinks  I  find  au- 
thority, from  these  sweet  words,  to  make  a  paraphrase  upon 
them,  and  to  make  application  of  them,  for  all  and  every  cir- 
cumstance with  which  I  may  be  exercised ;  and,  looking  up 
to  God  my  Father  in  Christ  Jesus,  I  would  say,  "  Now,  O 
Lord  and  Father,  I  know  thou  dost  love  a  poor,  sinful,  un- 
worthy worm  as  I  am,  seeing  thou  hast  not  withheld  thy 
Son,  thine  only  Son,  from  me !" 


4. — And  he  led  them  forth  by  a  right  way,  that  they  might  go  to  a  city 
of  habitation. — Psalm  cvii.  7. 

My  soul !  what  are  thy  daily  exercises  concerning  the 
way  the  Lord  thy  God  is  leading  thee  through  a  wilderness 
dispensation  ?  Art  thou  convinced  that  it  is  the  right  way  ? 
What  if  it  be  a  thorny  way,  a  tempted  way,  frequently  a 
dark  way ;  yet  art  thou  satisfied  that  it  is  the  right  way,  be- 
cause it  is  thorny,  tempted,  dark,  and  with  numberless  other 
exercises?  This  is  the  plan  to  judge  by.  And  though,  my 
soul,  I  trust  thou  hast  grace  enough  given  thee  to  see  and 
know,  in  thy  cool  hours  of  thought,  that  whatever  thy  God 


AUGUST.  213 

appoints  must  be  right,  and  his  holy  will  must  be  done ;  yet 
there  is  an  exercise  of  grace  which  goes  much  beyond  these 
views  of  the  subject,  and  which  a  believer  is  enabled  to  bring 
into  practice,  when  he  not  only  submits  to  a  painful  dispensa- 
tion, but  rejoiceth  in  it,  because  it  is  the  right  way.  When 
he  saith,  I  am  afflicted ;  but  afflictions  are  useful.  I  am  in 
dark  and  trying  circumstances  :  but  these  also  are  useful.  I 
am  buffeted  by  Satan ;  but  this  also  I  find  to  be  right,  be- 
cause Christ  is  the  more  endeared  thereby,  and  his  strength 
is  perfected  in  my  weakness !  My  God  is  bringing  me  by  a 
right  way,  to  a  city  of  habitation.  Of  this  I  am  sure.  And 
every  step  leading  to  the  final  attainment,  is  already  marked 
by  infinite  wisdom,  and  provided  for  by  infinite  love ;  and 
Jesus  himself  is  with  me  through  all  the  pilgrimage !  Hence 
then,  I  conclude,  that  if  at  any  time  I  am  at  a  loss  to  see  my 
way,  to  find  comfort  in  my  way,  or  if  I  am  obstructed  in  my 
way;  still  it  is  the  right  way,  because  Jesus  himself  is  the 
way,  and  his  unerring  wisdom  is  in  the  appointment !  Oh, 
for  grace  in  lively  exercise,  to  be  as  satisfied  now,  of  all  thy 
dispensations  concerning  thy  church  and  people,  as  when  of 
old  in  the  wilderness ;  the  Lord  is  leading  forth  by  a  right 
way,  to  bring  to  a  city  of  habitation,  whose  builder  and 
maker  is  God. 

5. — Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord,  I  am  returned  to  Jerusalem  with 
mercies. — Zech.  i.  16. 

My  soul,  think  what  a  sad  state  that  land,  that  church,  that 
family,  that  heart,  is  in,  where  God  withdraws  but  for  a  mo- 
ment! This  will  be  one  way  of  rightly  appreciating  his 
presence.  What  a  mercy,  what  an  unspeakable  mercy,  is  it 
when  God  returns !  For  until  he  returns  in  grace,  there 
will  be  no  return  to  him  in  a  way  of  seeking  mercy.  Pause, 
my  soul,  over  the  thought.  Though  a  child  of  God  loseth 
not  the  interest  and  favour  of  God  in  his  covenant,  because 
what  unworthiness  soever,  as  in  ourselves,  we  mwst  appear 
in  before  God,  yet  in  Christ  there  is  an  everlasting  worthi- 
ness, in  which  his  people  are  accepted  and  beloved ;  yet  if 
the  Lord  suspends  his  gracious  influences  to  the  soul ;  if 
Jesus  speaks  neither  by  Urim  nor  Thummim ;  if  the  Holy 
Ghost,  though  at  home  in  the  heart,  manifests  not  himself  to 
the  heart ;  what  shall  the  soul  do  ?  Ordinances  are  nothing, 
if  the  God  of  ordinances  be  not  in  them.  To  look  inward, 
the  soul  finds  no  peace.     To  look  upward,  there  can  be  no 


214  MORNING   PORTION. 

comfort.  For  if  the  Lord  commands  the  clouds  to  pour  no 
rain  upon  his  inheritance,  their  heaven  is  as  brass,  and  their 
earth  as  iron.  Hast  thou,  my  soul,  experienced  trying  sea- 
sons ;  and  though  convinced  of  an  interest  in  Jesus,  hast  thou 
languished  after  the  sweet  and  blessed  visits  of  his  grace? 
Listen,  then,  to  this  precious  scripture ;  "  I  am  returned,  saith 
the  Lord,  unto  .Jerusalem  with  mercies."  Welcome,  Lord, 
to  my  soul,  to  my  heart !  Thy  presence  is  better  than  life 
itself  And  the  mercies  thou  hast  brought  with  thee,  in  par- 
doning, quickening,  renewing,  reviving,  comforting,  and 
strengthening  me,  will  put  more  joy  in  my  heart  than  thou- 
sands of  gold  and  silver.  There  will  be  no  barren  ordi- 
nances, no  barren  hearts,  no  barren  land,  where  our  God 
comes.  Thou  hast  said,  "  I  will  be  as  the  dew  unto  Israel." 
Oh !  what  a  revival  in  my  poor  heart ;  what  a  revival  will 
thy  presence  make  in  my  family !  what  a  revival  in  thy 
churches  ;  what  a  revival  in  this  dear  land  of  our  nativity ! 
Oh !  come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  in  our  midst ;  and  let  us  hear 
thee  say,  "  I  am  returned  to  Jerusalem  with  mercies.  Thou 
shalt  no  more  be  termed  forsaken ;  neither  shall  thy  land  any- 
more be  termed  desolate  :  but  thou  shalt  be  called  Hephzibah, 
and  thy  land  Beulah ;  for  the  Lord  delighteth  in  thee,  and 
thy  land  shall  be  married." 


6. — Set  me  as  a  seal  upon  thine  heart,  as  a  seal  upon  thine  arm  :  for 
love  is  strong  as  death  ;  jealousy  is  cruel  as  the  grave  :  the  coals 
thereof  are  coals  of  fire,  which  hath  a  most  vehement  flame. — Sovg 
viii.  6. 

My  soul,  is  this  the  language  of  thine  heart  to  Jesus  ?  Yes, 
it  is.  Can  any  desire  to  be  nearer  Christ  than  thee?  Can 
any  long  more  to  be  worn  as  a  signet  upon  his  arm,  and  to 
lay  nearer  his  heart,  than  thee?  And  can  any  desire  more 
than  thou  dost,  to  be  sealed  with  his  Holy  Spirit  unto  the  day 
of  redemption?  Surely,  my  soul,  thou  longest  earnestly  for 
these  precious  things,  that  that  arm  of  Jesus,  on  which  thou 
wouldest  be  set  as  a  seal,  may  be  ever  clasping  thee ;  and 
that  heart  of  thy  Redeemer's  upon  which  thou  art  engraven, 
as  the  high-priest  bore  the  names  of  the  people  of  Israel, 
may  be  always  folding  thee,  and  bearing  both  thy  person  and 
thy  wants  before  the  throne,  and  thus  unceasing  fellowship 
may  abound  with  the  Father  and  with  his  Son  Jesus  Christ. 
And  canst  thou  not  say,  as  the  church  did  to  Jesus,  "  For 
love  is  strong  as  death ;  jealousy  is  cruel  as  the  grave  ?"  For 


AUGUST.  215 

as  death  conquers  all,  and  the  grave  admits  of  no  rival,  so 
thy  love  to  Jesus,  which  he  hath  planted  in  thine  heart,  hath 
conquered  thee ;  and  no  rival,  no  partner,  can  divide  the 
throne  of  thine  heart  with  Jesus.  Every  thing  in  thee,  con- 
cerning Jesus,  is  as  though  on  fire ;  and  all  the  flames  of 
thine  affection  burn  with  this  language:  "Whom  have  1  in 
heaven  but  thee  1  and  there  is  none  upon  earth  I  desire  beside 
thee.  My  flesh  and  my  heart  faileth :  but  thou  art  the  strength 
of  my  heart,  and  thou  art  my  portion  for  ever !"  But  pause, 
my  soul !  Is  there  not  somewhat  in  those  precious  words  of 
the  morning,  in  which  Jesns  may  be  supposed  to  say  the 
same  to  thee?  Surely,  my  soul,  if  thou  lovest  him,  it  is  be- 
cause he  first  loved  thee !  And  if  the  real  cry  of  thine  heart 
is  to  be  set  as  a  seal  upon  his  heart,  and  upon  his  arm,  de- 
pend upon  it,  it  is  because  he  hath  been  beforehand  with  thee 
in  both.  Precious  Redeemer !  and  dost  thou  indeed  bid  me 
set  thee  in  my  heart,  and  on  my  arm  ?  Lord  Jesus !  I  would 
wear  thee  in  my  heart ;  I  would  never,  never  suffer  thee  to 
depart  from  my  arms  ;  I  would  feel  thee  inward,  manifest 
thee  by  every  ouHvard  testimony,  and  as  seals  upon  the  arm 
and  upon  the  breast  are  in  sight,  so  would  I  set  thee  always 
before  me,  and  tell  the  whole  earth  whose  I  am,  and  whom  I 
love ;  that  whither  thofl  goest  I  would  go,  and  where  thou 
dwellest  I  would  dwell :  for  I  am  no  longer  my  own,  but  am 
bought  with  a  price ;  therefore  I  would  glorify  God  in  my 
body,  and  in  my  spirit,  v/hich  are  his. 

7. — A  friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother. — Prov.  xviii.  24. 

And  who  is  this,  my  soul ;  indeed,  who  can  it  be,  but  Je- 
sus? None  among  the  fallen  race  of  Adam  could  ever  re- 
deem his  brother,  or,  if  he  could,  w^ould  have  done  it  at  the 
expense  of  his  own  soul.  But  Jesus  did  all  this,  and  more, 
when  our  cause  was  desperate,  and  gave  himself  a  ransom 
for  his  redeemed.  Oh  !  for  grace  to  mark  the  features  of  his 
love.  It  began  in  eternity ;  it  runs  through  all  time,  and  con- 
tinues everlasting.  As  Jesus  is  himself,  so  is  he  in  his  love ; 
the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  for  ever.  And  how  hath 
he  shown  it?  First,  by  engaging  as  our  Surety  ;  then,  pay- 
ing all  our  debts;  fulfilling  the  whole  law;  purchasing  our 
persons  ;  undertaking  for  our  duty ;  nay,  even  to  the  conquer- 
ing the  stubbornness  of  our  nature,  and  making  us  willing 
to  be  saved  in  the  day  of  his  power  ?  And  what  is  it  now  ? 
Having  accomplished  redemption  for  us  by  his  blood,  he  is 


216  MORNING    PORTION.  "* 

gone  to  take  possession  of  a  kingdom  in  our  name.     There 

he  still  manifests  the  friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  bro- 
ther ;  for  he  takes  up  all  our  causes,  pleads  our  suits,  and 
makes  every  case  his  own.  And  by  and  by  he  will  come  to 
take  us  to  himself,  that  where  he  is,  there  we  may  be  also.  In 
the  mean  time  he  supplies  all  our  wants,  and  this  with  a  free- 
ness,  fulness,  suitableness,  and  all-sufficienc)',  that  knows  no 
bounds,  to  manifest  the  unalterable  friendship  which  he  bears 
us.  He  visits  us  continually,  sympathizeth  with  us  in  all  our 
afflictions,  and  increaseth  with  his  tender  love  the  enjoyment 
of  all  our  comforts  ;  and  all  this,  and  a  thousand  other 
nameless,  numberless  tokens,  Jesus  is  continually  showing,  as 
proves  that  his  whole  heart  and  soul  is  ours.  So  that  he  is  a 
faithful,  loving,  constant,  powerful,  kind,  everlasting,  un- 
changing Friend,  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother.  My 
soul,  what  wik  thou  say  to  such  a  Friend  ?  How  wilt  thou 
love  him  ?  Oh !  precious  Lord  !  I  am  astonished  when  I 
think  of  thy  love  and  my  ingratitude.  But,  Lord,  it  is  thine 
to  love,  thine  to  pity,  thine  to  pardon.  Lord,  give  me  grace 
to  appropriate  thee  to  myself;  and  while  thou  art  still  saying 
to  me,  and  to  thy  church, "  I  have  called  you  friends" — may 
I  say,  "  This  is  my  Friend,  and  this  is  my  Beloved,  O  daugh- 
ters of  Jerusalem  !" 


8. — Henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness,  which 
the  Lord  the  righteous  Judge  shall  give  me  at  that  day  :  and  not  to 
me  only,  but  unto  all  them  that  love  his  appearing. — 2  Timothy  iv.  8. 

Pause,  my  soul,  over  this  blessed  verse,  and  mark  the  very 
weighty  things  contained  in  it.  Many  a  soul  is  for  deferring 
the  thoughts  of  this  great  day  of  God,  and  concludes,  that 
the  justification  of  the  sinner  cannot  be  known  until  the  day 
of  judgment.  But,  my  soul,  see  to  it  that  thou  art  for  bring- 
ing the  firm  and  unshaken  belief  of  it  into  immediate  posses- 
sion and  enjoyment  now ;  for  surely  Jesus  hath  effectually 
and  fully  provided  for  it.  Whom  he  called,  them  he  also 
justified;  and  whom  he  justified,  them  he  also  glorified. 
See  to  it  then,  my  soul,  that  thou  dost  not  suffer  thy- 
self to  live  a  day,  no,  not  an  hour,  in  a  state  of  uncer- 
tainty, upon  a  point  of  such  infinite  consequence,  in  which 
the  pardon  of  thy  sins,  and  the  justification  of  thy  person  be- 
fore God,  is  so  highly  concerned.  If  Jesus  be  thy  Surety, 
his  righteousness  and  blood  must  be  thy  full  justification  be- 
fore God,  and  his  salvation  as  much  now  as  it  will  ever  be. 


A  AUGUST.  217 

Pause  then,  and  ask  thine  heart,  Dost  thou  love  his  appearing  ? 
Suppose  the  trump  of  God  was  this  moment  to  sound,  would- 
est  thou  love  his  appearing  ?  No  doubt  the  moment  would 
be  solemn  ;  but  would  it  not  be  glorious  ?  Is  Jesus  thine  ? 
his  righteousness  thine  ?  his  blood  thy  ransom  ?  Wouldest 
thou  love  his  appearing  if  these  things  were  sure  ?  And 
what  makes  them  not  sure  ?  Art  thou  looking  to  any  other 
righteousness?  Hast  thou  not  disclaimed  all  other  saviours  ? 
Ask  thyself  again :  dost  thou  love  his  appearing  in  the  sea- 
son of  ordinances,  providences,  retirements;  in  his  word,  in 
the  visits  of  his  grace  ;  at  his  table,  his  house  of  prayer, 
among  his  churches,  his  people?  Dost  thou  love  his  appear- 
ing in  the  conversion  of  every  poor  sinner  ;  and  doth  the 
same  make  thee  to  rejoice  over  the  recovery  of  such,  as  an- 
gels do,  when  one  repents  ?  My  soul !  let  these  things  be 
among  thy  daily  meditations  concerning  Jesus  ;  for  then  will 
thy  meditation  of  him  be  sweet.  And  by  thus  making  the 
justification  of  thy  person  in  the  blood  and  righteousness  of 
Jesus  thy  daily  comfort,  thou  wilt  be  prepared  to  love  his  ap- 
pearing, in  death,  and  finally  at  judgment ;  that  when  the 
Master  comes,  and  calleth  for  thee,  thou  mayest  arise  with 
holy  joy,  and  mount  up  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air,  and  re- 
ceive that  crov^rn  of  Jesus'  righteousness  which  fadeth  not 
away. 


9. — And  the  fire  upon  the  altar  shall  be  burning  in  it :  it  shall  not  be  put 
out.  The  fire  shall  ever  be  burning  upon  the  altar  ;  it  shall  never 
go  out. — Levit.  vi.  12,  13. 

Pause,  my  soul !  Behold  the  precept  in  one  verse,  and 
the  promise  in  the  other.  The  Israelite  was  not  to  2^iit  out 
this  altar-fire ;  and  Jehovah  promised  that  it  should  never  go 
out.  Neither  did  it,  through  all  the  Jewish  church,  until 
Christ  came.  And  if  it  be  true  that  it  actually  did  expire  (as 
it  is  said  it  did)  the  very  year  Christ  died,  what  is  this  but  a 
confirmation  of  the  grand  truths  of  God  concerning  the  put- 
ting away  sin  by  the  blood  of  Christ  ?  For  is  not  fire  an 
emblem,  through  all  the  scriptures,  of  Jehovah's  displeasure 
against  sin  ?  Is  not  God  said  to  be  a  consuming  fire  ? 
And  by  its  burning,  and  that  miraculously  preserved 
under  all  the  Jewish  dispensation,  is  it  not  meant  to  man- 
ifest Jehovah's  perpetual  wrath,  burning  hke  fire  against 
sin  ?  And  as  the  fire  Avas  never  extinguished  upon  the  altar, 
notwithstanding  the  numerous   sacrifices  ofl^ered,  can   any 

19 


218  MORNING    PORTION.  * 

thing  more  decidedly  prove  the  inefficacy  of  sacrifices  under 
the  law,  how  expensive  soever  they  were,  to  take  away  sin  ? 
And  is  the  fire  now  gone  out ;  Hath  God  himself  indeed  put 
it  out?  Then  hath  he  accepted  that  one  offering  of  the  body 
of  Jesus  Christ  once  for  all,  who  came  to  put  away  sin,  and 
hath  for  ever  put  it  away  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself  Hail ! 
thou  great,  thou  glorious,  thou  everlasting  Redeemer  !  Thou 
art  indeed  both  the  High-priest  and  the  Altar,  both  the  Sa- 
crifice and  the  Sacrificer,  w^hose  one  offering  hath  both  put 
out  the  fire  of  divine  wrath,  and  caused  the  holy  flame  of  love 
and  peace  to  burn  in  its  stead,  which  hath  kindled  in  every 
heart  of  thy  people.  Yes,  yes,  thou  Lamb  of  God  !  it  is 
thou  which  hast  delivered  us  from  the  wrath  to  come  !  Thou 
hast  made  our  peace  in  the  blood  of  thy  cross.  Thou  hast 
quenched,  by  thy  blood,  the  just  fire  of  divine  indignation 
against  sin.  Thou  hast  quenched  no  less  all  the  fiery  darts 
of  Satan.  Thou  hast  subdued  the  flaming  enmity  of  our 
hearts,  with  all  their  fiery  lusts  and  buining  affections.  What 
shall  I  say  to  thee,  what  shall  I  say  o/thee,  what  shall  I  pro- 
claim concerning  thee.  Oh  thou,  the  Lord  our  Righteousness  ? 
Lord,  help  me  to  begin  the  song,  and  never  suffer  sin  or  Satan — 
nay,  death  itself,  for  a  moment,  to  make  an  interruption  in 
the  heavenly  note  :  but  let  thy  name  fill  my  whole  soul,  and 
vibrate  on  my  dying  lips,  that  I  may  open  my  eyes  in  eter- 
nity, while  the  words  still  hang  there:  Tahim  who  hath  loved 
us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood,  a7id  made  us 
kings  and  priests  unto  God  and  the  Father  ;  to  him  be  glory 
and  dominion  for  ever  and  ever.    Amen. 

10. — Who  hath  saved  us,  and  called  us  with  an  holy  calling,  not  accord- 
ing to  our  works,  but  according  to  his  own  purpose  and  grace  which 
was  given  us  in  Christ  Jesus,  before  the  world  began. — ^2  Timothy  i.  9. 

Mark,  my  soul,  all  the  precious  things,  if  thou  hast  power 
or  time  to  do  so,  which  are  contained  in  this  blessed  scripture. 
Eternity  itself  will  not  be  sufficient  to  allow  space  to  enume- 
rate them  ;  neither  will  thy  ripened  faculties,  even  when  full- 
blown and  full-fruited,  be  found  sufficient  to  enter  into  the 
complete  apprehension  of  them  all.  Who  is  it  that  is  here 
said  to  have  saved  us,  and  called  us  with  an  holy  calling,  but 
the  holy,  glorious,  undivided  Jehovah,  existing  in  a  threefold 
character  of  persons — Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost?  For 
all  have  concurred  in  that  blessed  work ;  and  all,  in  the  es- 
sence of  the  One  Jehovah,  must  have  the  joint  praise  and  the 


AUGUST.  219 

joint  glory  to  all  eternity.  Well,  then,  put  thy  salvation 
down  to  this  glorious  account :  it  is  God  who  hath  saved  and 
called  thee.  Next,  mark  the  order  here  set  forth.  Thou  art 
said  to  be  saved  before  thou  art  said  to  be  called.  Mark  that ! 
salvation  precedes  our  knowledge  of  it.  The  covenant  en- 
gagements of  the  almighty  Covenanters  took  place  from  ever- 
lasting. For  so  saith  the  apostle  concerning  the  hopes  of 
happiness  founded  on  salvation :  "  In  hope,"  saith  he,  "  of 
eternal  life,  which  God,  that  cannot  lie,  promised  before  the 
world  began."  Next,  my  soul,  take  notice  of  the  call  itself 
It  is  an  holy  call ;  for  we  are  called  to  the  fellowship  and 
communion  of  Jesus  Christ.  And  as  He  who  hath  called  us 
is  holy,  so  are  we  called  to  be  holy,  in  all  manner  of  conver- 
sation and  godliness.  See  to  it,  my  soul,  that  thy  fellowship 
and  communion  is  in  the  holiness  and  sin-atoning  blood  of 
Jesus.  Lastly,  never  my  soul,  lose  sight  of  the  cause  of  these 
unspeakable  mercies — no,  not  for  a  moment.  We  are  saved, 
and  called,  not  according  to  our  works,  but  according  to  his 
purpose.  Hence,  what  is  God's  gift,  cannot  be  man's  merit : 
and  what  resulted  from  infinite  love,  from  all  eternity,  cannot 
flow  from  creature-love  in  time.  Blessed  purpose,  and  blessed 
grace !  and  thrice  blessed,  being  given  to  us  in  God's  dear 
Son,  even  Christ  Jesus,  before  the  world  began ! 

11. — By  faith  Abel  offered  unto  God  a  more  excellent  sacrifice  than 
Cain. — Heh.  xi.  4. 

The  Holy  Ghost  hath  here  marked  down,  by  his  servant 
the  apostle,  in  the  very  first  offerings  which  we  read  of  in 
the  Bible,  the  vast  importance  of  faith  ;  by  which  it  most  de- 
cidedly proves,  that  it  is  faith  which  gives  efficacy  to  all  the 
offerings  of  his  creatures.  Faith  in  what?  Nay — there  can 
be  but  one  view  of  faith  throughout  the  u'ord  of  God,  namely, 
faith  in  the  promised  Seed,  to  bruise  the  serpent's  head.  This 
was  the  first  promise  which  came  in  upon  the  fall.  Every 
offering  therefore  offered  unto  God,  unless  it  had  an  eye  to 
this,  became  offensive.  Cain  did  not  offer  the  first  fruit  of 
the  ground  with  an  eye  of  faith  in  Christ — hence,  he  was  the 
first  Deist  the  world  ever  knew.  Abel,  by  faith,  offered  the 
firstlings  of  his  flock  with  an  eye  to  Jesus — and  hence  the 
testimony  that  God  respected  his  offering.  What  a  striking 
evidence  is  here,  my  soul,  of  the  vast  and  infinite  importance 
of  faith.  Cain  made  an  offering  to  God,  and,  by  doing  so, 
he  did,  as  the  Deists  now  do,  acknowledge  God  to  be  his 


220  MORNING   PORTION. 

Creator ;  but  not  looking  to  him  as  a  Redeemer,  and  thereby 
intimating  that  he  needed  none,  both  his  person  and  his  offer- 
ing were  rejected.  Meditate  on  this,  my  soul ;  and  learn,  by 
grace,  to  mix  faith  in  all  that  concerns  thy  soul.  Oh  !  keep 
an  eye  on  Jesus,  convinced  that  there  is  no  other  name  under 
heaven,  given  among  men,  whereby  we  must  be  saved.  And 
if,  through  the  gracious  teachings  of  the  Spirit,  in  taking  of 
the  things  of  Jesus,  and  showing  unto  thee,  thou  art  able 
daily  to  apprehend  by  faith,  and  bring  him,  as  the  bee  doth 
from  the  flower,  his  person,  his  work,  his  character,  his  rela- 
tions, his  grace,  and  righteousness,  as  the  Sent  and  Sealed, 
and  Anointed  of  the  Father,  full  of  grace  and  truth  ;  by  thus 
living  upon  him,  and  living  to  him,  and  making  him  what  he 
is  to  all  his  people,  the  Alpha  and  Omega  of  thy  salvation, 
faith  in  him  will  give  a  sweet  leaven  to  all  thy  poor  prayers, 
and  praises,  and  offerings,  and  thou  wilt  find  favour  with 
God,  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  his  grace,  who  maketh  thee 
accepted  in  the  Beloved  1 

12. — To  the  chief  singer  on  my  stringed  instruments. — Habakkuk  iii.  19. 

My  soul,  take  down  thine  harp  from  the  willow,  and  now 
the  night  is  past,  let  the  first  of  the  morn  find  thee  going 
forth,  in  the  matin  of  praise,  to  the  Chief  Singer  on  all  the 
instruments  of  his  grace,  which  he  hath  strung  thine  heart  to 
use  to  his  glory.  And  who  is  this  Chief  Singer,  but  Jesus  ? 
Doth  not  the  prophet  say,  "  The  Lord  God  is  my  strength, 
and  he  will  make  my  feet  like  hinds'  feet,  and  he  will  make 
me  to  walk  in  mine  high  places  ?"  Surely  he  that  is  the 
Lord  God  of  my  salvation  is  the  Chief  Singer  and  Chief 
Musician  of  my  song.  And  he  that  will  be  my  portion,  my 
everlasting  portion,  in  the  upper  world,  will  be  my  strength 
and  song  in  this.  Surely  David  would  not  have  directed,  as 
he  hath  in  such  numberless  places,  his  psalms  to  a  singer 
among  men,  in  the  temple  service,  when  the  whole  scope  of 
the  psalm  itself  treats  of  the  Lord,  and  of  his  Christ.  The 
root  of  the  word  singer  or  musician  itself  means  the  end  ;  and 
Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law,  for  righteousness  to  every  one 
that  believeth.  Come  then,  my  soul,  strike  up  this  morning 
thy  hymn  of  praise.  God  the  Holy  Ghost  is  exciting  thee. 
It  is  he  which  points  to  Jesus.  He  shows  thee  the  King  in 
his  beaut}'-,  and  bids  thee  behold  his  suitableness,  transcendent 
excellencies,  grace,  love,  favour,  glory.  Carry,  then,  all  thy 
concerns  to  this  Chief  Musician.     Put  forth  all  thy  strength 


AUGUST.  221 

to  praise  him,  that  while  Jesus  is  attentive  to  the  hallelujahs 
of  heaven,  he  may  hear  thy  feeble  notes  amidst  all  the  songs 
which  are  offered  to  him,  giving  glory  to  his  great  name, 
from  the  uttermost  part  of  the  earth.  Follow  the  prophet's 
example ;  and  let  the  goings  forth  of  thy  warmest  desires  be 
to  the  Chief  Singer  on  thy  stringed  instruments : — "  The 
Lord  is  my  strength  and  my  shield  ;  my  heart  trusteth  in  him, 
and  I  am  helped :  therefore  my  heart  greatly  rejoiceth,  and 
in  my  song  will  I  praise  him." 

13. — And  every  oblation  of  thy  meat-ofFering  shalt  thou  season  with  salt ; 
neither  shalt  thou  suffer  the  salt  of  the  covenant  of  thy  God  to  be 
lacking  from  thy  meat-offering :  with  all  thine  offerings  thou  shalt 
offer  salt. — Leviticus  ii.  13. 

Ponder  over  these  words,  my  soul ;  and  looking  up  for 
grace,  and  the  divine  teachings,  see  whether  Jesus  is  not 
sweetly  typified  here.  Was  not  Jesus  the  whole  sum  and 
substance  of  every  offering  under  the  law  ?  The  Holy  Ghost 
taught  the  church  this,  when  he  said  the  law  was  a  shadow 
of  good  things  to  come,  but  the  body  is  of  Christ,  And  did 
not  the  church,  by  faith,  behold  him  as  the  Salt  which  sea- 
soned and  made  savoury  the  whole  ?  Moreover,  as  all  the 
sacrifices  were  wholly  directed  to  typify  Him  who  knew  no 
sin,  but  became  sin  for  his  people,  the  seasoning  the  sacrifice 
with  salt,  which  was  also  a  type  of  Christ's  purity  and  sin- 
lessness,  became  a  sweet  representation  to  denote  that  the  sin- 
ner, when  he  came  with  his  offering,  came  by  faith ;  to  inti- 
mate that  he  looked  for  acceptance  in  the  Lord  as  his  sacri- 
fice, and  for  preservation  in  the  salt  of  his  grace,  in  Christ 
Jesus.  And  who  then,  among  believers  now,  would  ever 
approach  without  an  eye  to  Jesus,  and  the  seasoning  with 
this  salt  all  his  poor  offerings.  Lord,  grant  that  the  Salt  of 
the  covenant  of  my  God  may  never  be  lacking;  for  where 
Jesus  is  not,  there  can  be  no  acceptance.  Lord,  let  me  have 
this  Salt  in  myself,  and  may  every  renewed  presentation  of 
myself  be  there  saUed.  Then  shall  I  be  as  the  salt  of  the 
earth,  amidst  not  only  the  putrefactions  of  the  world,  but  the 
corruptions  of  my  own  heart.  Lord,  say  to  us,  and  impart  the 
blessing  of  thyself  in  saying  it.  Have  salt  in  yourselves  ;  and 
then  shall  we  have  peace  with  thee,  and  with  one  another. 


222  MORNING   PORTION. 

14. — And  shall  not  God  avenge  his  own  elect,  which  cry  day  and  night 
unto  him,  though  he  bear  long  with  them  ?  I  tell  you  that  he  will 
avenge  them  speedily. — Luke  xviii.  7,  8. 

My  soul,  mark,  for  thy  encouragement,  in  all  thine  ap- 
proaches to  a  throne  of  grace,  what  Jesus  here  speaks,  and 
never  lose  sight  of  it.  Remember  how  well  acquainted  He 
who  came  out  of  the  bosom  of  the  Father,  must  be  with  the 
Father's  mind  and  will  towards  his  people,  over  and  above 
the  gracious  exercise  of  his  priestly  office  in  their  behalf. 
Now,  my  soul,  do  mark  down  distinctly  what  blessed  things 
are  here  promised.  First^ — God's  people  are  said  in  it  to  be 
his  elect,  his  chosen,  his  jewels.  This  people,  saith  God,  I 
have  formed  for  myself;  they  shall  show  forth  my  praise. 
Secondly^ — God's  people  are  a  praying  people :  they  cry  day 
and  night  to  him  ;  they  are  unceasing  in  their  applications  ; 
and  they  wrestle,  like  their  father  Jacob,  in  prayer.  Lord,  I 
will  not  let  thee  go  except  thou  bless  me.  Give  me  Jesus, 
and  in  him  I  shall  have  all  things.  He  will  subdue  this  cor- 
ruption ;  he  will  soften  this  affliction  ;  he  will  conquer  Satan, 
and  with  him  all  his  temptations.  Thirdly^ — God's  people 
will  and  must  be  exercised.  There  will  be  sometimes  long 
silence  at  the  throne.  The  enemy  will  endeavour  to  improve 
this  to  strengthen  his  temptation :  he  will  suggest,  God  hath 
forgotten  thee ;  he  will  return  no  more ;  he  hath  cast  thee 
off  Lastly^ — mark  what  Jesus  saith  : — "  Shall  not  God 
avenge  his  own  elect,  who  cry  day  and  nigh  unto  him,  though 
he  bear  long  with  them  ?"  Yes,  yes  !  he  will :  "  I  tell  you," 
saith  One  who  could  not  be  mistaken,  "  he  will  avenge  them, 
and  that  speedily."  When  the  hour  of  deUverance  comes,  it 
shall  come  so  sudden,  so  sweet,  so  unexpected,  that  all  their 
long  waiting  shall  be  forgotten  ;  and  it  shall  seem  as  if  that 
promise  of  answering  before  they  called  was  in  it.  And  he 
will  not  only  bless  them,  but  avenge  them  of  their  foes.  And 
whence  all  this,  my  soul,  but  because  he  is  the  Father  of 
mercies,  and  God  of  all  consolation.  His  people  are  his 
chosen,  the  gift  of  his  love,  the  purchase  of  Jesus'  blood, 
the  conquests  of  his  Holy  Spirit.  Lord,  cause  me  ever  to 
keep  those  precious  things  in  remembrance,  and  to  hang  on, 
and  hold  out,  and  never,  never  to  give  over  pleading  in  Jesus, 
until  I  hear  that  precious  voice,  "  Be  it  unto  thee,  even  as 
thou  wilt." 


AUGUST.  223 

15. — ^The  good  will  of  him  that  dwelt  ia  the  bush. — Deut.  xxxiii.  16. 

And  who  is   this,  my  soul ;  who  indeed  can  it  be,  but 
Jesus  1     Surely  He  is  the  glorious  person.      It  was  good 
will  in  the  highest  possible  instance  of  it,  that  prompted  his 
infinite  mind,  from  everlasting,  to  love  his  people,  to  engage 
for  them  in  suretyship  engagements,  and  to  stand  up  and 
come  forth,  at  the  call  of  God  the  Father,  as  the  Head  of  his 
body  the  church.     It  was  a  continuation  of  the  same  good 
will  which  prompted  him,  in  the  fulness  of  time,  to  assume 
our  nature  for  the  purposes  of  fulfilling  those  engagements. 
Then  it  was,  indeed,  he  dwelt  in  the  bush  ;  for  what  is  our 
nature,  at  the  best,  but  a  poor  dry  bramble  bush,  fit  for  burn- 
ing?    But  yet,  by  Christ  in  it,  so  sustained,  and  so  preserved, 
that  though  the  bush  burns  with  fire,  even  the  fiery  lusts  of 
our  corruptions,  and  the  fiery  darts  of  the  wicked,  and  all 
the  fiery  opposition  of  the  world,  it  shall  not  be  consumed. 
Precious  Jesus !   what  good  will  hast  thou  shown,  dost  thou 
show,  and  everlastingly  wilt  show,  to  our  poor  nature,  since 
thou  hast  been  in  it  \  and  art  now,  indeed  the  dweller  in  it ! 
And  did  Moses,  when  dying,  thus  connect  the  first  views  of 
thy  love,  when  from  the  burning  bush  thou  didst  make  thy- 
self known  to  him  as  God  tabernacling  in  our  flesh  for  the 
purpose  of  salvation,  with  his  last  views  as  he  was  closing  his 
eyes  to  this  world,  and  looking  up  to  thee  as  God-man  Me- 
diator, and  thus  pray  for  thy  good  will  to  the  church  ?      Oh, 
then,  let  my  every  day  meditation  do  the  same.     Lord  Jesus  ! 
I  would  seek  thee  and  thy  good  will  beyond  all  the  riches  of 
the  earth,  and  all  the  enjoyments  of  the  world.     Lord !  I 
would  never  forget  that  it  was  thy  good  will  which  brought 
thee  down  from  heaven  ;  thy  good  will  which  prompted  thee 
to  die,  to  rise  again,  for  poor  sinners  ;  thy  good  will  which 
makes  thee  wash  them  from  all  their  sins  in  thy  blood  ;  all 
the   visits  of  thy  grace  here,  all  the  glories  of  redemption 
hereafter ;  all  are  the  purchase  and  the  result  of  thy  good 
will.     Precious  Lord !   do  thou,  day  by   day,  grant  me  re- 
newed tokens  of  thy  good  will ;  and  let  those  visits  be  so 
gracious,  so  sweet,  and  so  continual,  that  I  may  think  of  no- 
thing else,  speak  of  nothing  else,  but  the  good  will  of  my 
Dweller  in  the  bush.     I  would  pray  for  grace  to  spend  all 
the  moments  of  my  life  here,  in  receiving  from  thee  grace 
and   love,  and  bringing  to  thee  love  and  praise,  until  thou 
shalt  take  me  home  to  live  at  the  fountain  of  thy  good  will, 
and  the  whole  happiness  of  eternity  consist  in  the  praises  of 


224  MORNING   PORTION. 

God  and  the  Lamb,  and  in  enjoying  the  good  will  of  Him 
that  dwelt  in  the  bush. 

16. — I  am  black,  but  comely. — Song  i.  5. 

See,  my  soul,  whether  thine  experience  corresponds  to 
that  of  the  church.  Hast  thou  learnt  from  God  the  Spirit 
what  thou  art  in  thyself?  Art  thou  truly  sensible  of  the 
many  sins  and  corruptions  which  lurk  under  fair  appear- 
ances, and  that,  from  carrying  about  with  thee  a  body  of  sin 
and  death,  as  the  apostle  said  he  did,  in  thee,  that  is,  in  thy 
flesh,  dwelleth  no  good  thing?  Dost  thou  appear  not  only 
black  in  thine  own  view,  but  art  thou  despised  for  Christ's 
sake,  and  counted  the  offscouring  of  all  things  in  the  view 
of  the  world  ?  Pause  my  soul !  Now  look  at  the  bright 
side.  Art  thou  comely  in  Christ's  righteousness,  which  he 
hath  put  upon  thee  ?  Comely  in  the  sweet  sanctifying  grace 
of  the  Holy  Ghost  dwelling  in  thee?  Comely  in  the  eyes 
of  God  the  Father,  from  being  accepted  in  Jesus  the  Beloved  ? 
Comely  in  Church  communion  and  fellowship,  v^^alking  in 
the  fear  of  God,  and  under  the  comforts  of  the  Holy  Ghost? 
What  sayest  thou,  my  soul,  to  these  sweet  but  soul-searching 
testimonies  ?  If  thou  canst  now  take  up  the  language  of  the 
church,  "  I  am  black,  but  comely  ;"  lowly  in  thine  own 
eyes,  self-loathing,  self-despising,  self-abhorring  ;  but  in  Jesus 
rejoicing,  and  in  his  salvation  triumphing,  all  the  day  ;  think, 
my  soul,  what  will  it  be  when  the  King,  in  whose  comeli- 
ness thou  art  comely,  shall  take  thee  home  as  a  bride  adorned 
for  her  husband,  and  thou  shalt  then  be' found,  not  having 
spot,  or  wrinkle,  or  any  such  thing  ;  but  shall  be  everlastingly 
holy,  and  without  blame  before  him  in  love. 

17. — The  dead  shall  hear  the  voice  of  the  Son  of  God  ;  and  they  that 
hear  shall  live. — John  v.  25. 

What  a  promise  is  here !  and  what  an  encouragement  for 
every  dead  sinner  to  hope,  and  for  every  living  saint,  who  is 
interested  for  dead  sinners,  not  to  despair.  Observe,  my  soul, 
the  extensiveness  of  the  mercy  :  it  is  the  dead.  Why  all  are 
dead  in  trespasses  and  sins.  Is  there  not  hope  then  for  all  ? 
And  they  that  hear  shall  live.  Why  then  every  sinner 
should  ask  his  heart.  Do  I  hear  ?  But  my  soul,  mark  how 
this  is  done.  It  is  by  the  voice  of  the  Son  of  God.  Yes, 
there  is  salvation  in  no  other.     He  saith  himself,  "  I  am  the 


AUGUST.  225 

resurrection  and  the  life  :  he  that  believeth  in  me,  though  he 
were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live ;  and  whosoever  liveth,  and  be- 
lieveth in  me,  shall  never  die."  But,  my  soul,  while  taking 
comfort  from  this  blessed  passage,  as  it  concerns  poor  dead 
sinners,  ask  thine  own  heart  ^vhether  thou  hast  been  the 
happy  partaker  of  it  thyself  Hast  thou  heard  the  voice  of 
the  Son  of  God  ?  Yes,  if  so  be  thou  livest  i?i  him,  and 
upo?i  him,  and  w^alkest  with  him.  Jesus'  voice  is  a  quick- 
ening voice,  a  life-giving  voice,  a  soul-feeding  voice,  soul- 
strengthening,  heart-warming,  heart-breaking,  heart-melting 
voice !  What  sayest  thou,  my  soul,  to  these  examina- 
tions ?  Oh  !  if  Jesus'  voice  hath  been  ever  heard  by  thee, 
thou  wilt  be  desiring  the  renewal  of  it  from  day  to  day ; 
and  thou  wilt  be  saying,  in  the  earnest  language  of  the 
church,  "  Let  me  hear  thy  voice,  let  me  see  thy  countenance  ; 
for  sweet  is  thy  voice,  and  thy  countenance  is  comely." 

18. — Give  strong  drink  unto  him  that  is  ready  to  perish,  and  wine  to  those 
that  be  of  heavy  hearts.  Let  him  drink  and  forget  his  poverty,  and 
remember  his  misery  no  more. — Prov.  xxxi.  6,  7. 

What  is  the  strong  drink  of  the  gospel  but  the  covenant 
love,  faithfulness,  and  grace,  of  Jehovah  ?  And  what  is  the 
wine  of  the  gospel  but  the  love  of  Jesus,  which  the  church 
saith  is  better  than  wine  ?  Tell  a  poor  sinner  that  is  ready 
to  perish,  of  God  the  Father's  everlasting  love  tow^ards  his 
people,  who  were  all  by  nature  sinners  ready  to  perish,  when 
God  passed  by  and  bid  them  live.  Tell  them,  that  such  was 
God's  love  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son,  to  the  end  that 
all  that  believe  in  him  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting 
life.  Tell  them  of  Jesus,  his  Godhead,  his  Manhood — both 
natures  united  in  one  Person,  forming  one  Christ.  Tell  them 
that  faith  in  his  blood  will  save  the  soul ;  that  God  the  Fa- 
ther hath  respect  only  to  the  person  and  worth  of  his  dear 
Son  ;  and  that  for  his  sake,  and  his  sake  alone,  the  greatest 
saint,  and  the  greatest  sinner,  if  believers,  are  alike  saved. 
This  is  strong  drink  ;  and  a  poor  perishing  sinner  needs  the 
cordial.  Neither  will  the  heavy  in  heart  be  any  more  sad, 
that  thus  is  made  to  drink  of  the  w^ine  of  the  gospel.  My 
soul !  hast  thou  tasted  of  this  strong  drink  ?  Oh  !  then,  take 
the  cup  of  salvation,  and  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
Drink  of  this  cup  which  Jesus  puts  into  thine  hand,  and,  in 
his  riches,  forget  thy  poverty  ;  and  in  his  free,  and  full,  and 
finished  redemption,  remember  thine  own  misery  no  more. 


226  MORNING   PORTION, 

Live  only  to  Jesus,  and  let  him  be  thy  strong  drink,  thy  wine, 
and  thy  cordial  for  ever, 

19. — My  beloved  is  white  and  ruddy. — Song  v.  10. 

Pause,  my  soul,  and  contemplate  thy  Redeemer  this  morn- 
ing-, under  this  engaging  description  of  his  person.  It  opens 
a  delightful  subject  for  meditation  in  several  points  of  view. 
Jesus  is  white  and  ruddy,  if  considered  in  his  human  nature 
only.  He  might  be  said  to  be  white,  in  reference  to  the  im- 
maculate holiness  of  his  body,  underived  as  it  was  from  a  sin- 
ful stock  like  ours.  He  was  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  by 
the  miraculous  conception  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  therefore 
emphatically  called,  that  Holy  Thing  :  agreeably  to  all 
which,  his  whole  life  was  without  sin,  or  shadow  of  imperfec- 
tion. "  Such  an  High-priest  became  us,  who  is  holy,  harm- 
less, undefiled,  separate  from  sinners,  and  made  higher  than 
the  heavens."  Hence  Jesus  was  truly  ivhite  as  the  Lamb  of 
God,  without  blemish,  and  without  spot.  And  was  he  not 
ruddy  also,  in  his  bloody  sufferings,  when  his  head  was 
crowned  with  thorns,  and  his  side  pierced  on  the  cross  ?  Was 
he  not  ruddy  in  the  garden,  when  his  agony  was  so  great  as 
to  force  blood  through  all  the  pores  of  his  sacred  body, 
which  fell  in  great  drops  on  the  ground  ?  Behold,  my  soul, 
thy  Beloved  in  both  these  views,  and  say.  Is  he  not  white 
and  ruddy?  But  do  not  stop  here.  Look  at  him  again,  and 
contemplate  the  Lord  Jesus  as  the  Christ  of  God,  in  his  two 
natures^  divine  and  human,  and  say,  in  the  union  of  both.  Is 
he  not  white  and  ruddy  ?  What  can  set  forth  the  glories  of 
the  Godhead,  to  our  apprehension,  more  lovely  than  the  pu- 
rity of  whiteness,  which,  as  in  the  mount  of  transfiguration, 
became  a  brightness  too  dazzling  for  mortal  sight  to  behold  ? 
And  what  can  represent  the  human  nature  more  strikingly 
than  the  ruddiness  of  the  countenance  ?  Adam,  the  first 
man,  takes  his  very  name  from  hence  ;  for  Adam,  or  Ada- 
mah,  signifies,  red  earth.  And  such,  then,  was  Jesus.  And 
is  he  then,  my  soul,  white  and  ruddy  to  thy  view  ?  And  is 
he  also  thy  beloved  ?  Oh,  then,  let  him  be  thy  morning, 
noon-day,  evening,  midnight  meditation ;  and  let  him  be 
sweet  to  thee,  as  lie  is  to  his  church  and  people — the  Be- 
loved who  is  white  and  ruddy. 


AUGUST.  227 

20. — ^Within  the  vail,  whither  the  forerunner  is  for  us  entered,  even 
Jesus— Heb.  vi.  19,  20. 

Pause  over  these  words,  my  soul,  this  morning.  Is  the 
vail  removed  ?  Was  the  vail  rent  in  twain,  from  the  top  to 
the  bottom,  in  the  hour  that  Christ  died  1  And  did  Jesus,  as 
thy  High-priest,  with  all  his  blood,  then  enter  into  the  place 
not  made  with  hands,  having  obtained  eternal  redemption  for 
us  ?  Did  he  enter  too  as  thy  Forerunner  ?  Pause  over  this 
thought — it  is  a  sweet  one.  Is  Jesus  still  there?  Nay.  my 
soul,  look  in  and  see.  He  calls  thee  to  look  unto  him — nay, 
to  follow  him,  having  boldness  to  enter  into  the  holiest  by  his 
blood,  in  the  new  and  living  way  which  he  hath  consecrated 
for  us  through  the  vail,  that  is  to  say,  his  flesh.  And  what 
canst  thou  see  there  ?  Within  the  vail  of  the  Jewish  temple 
there  was  the  golden  censer,  and  the  ark  of  the  covenant, 
and  the  golden  pot  that  had  manna,  and  Aaron's  rod  that 
budded,  and  the  tables  of  the  covenant ;  and  over  it  the  che- 
rubims  of  glory,  shadowing  the  mercy-seat.  But  within  that 
vail,  whither  our  Forerunner  is  entered,  look  up  my  soul, 
and  see  Jesus  with  the  golden  censer  of  his  own  merits  and 
blood  ;  and  not  the  symbols  of  the  covenant  only,  but  he 
himself  the  whole  of  the  Covenant,  God  the  Father  hath 
given  him  for  the  people ;  not  merely  manna,  but  himself, 
the  living  bread,  the  bread  of  God,  of  which  whosoever 
eateth  shall  live  for  ever :  not  the  rod  of  Aaron,  but  the  rod 
of  his  power,  to  make  poor  sinners  willing  in  the  day  of  his 
power  •  not  the  cherubims  of  glory,  but  himself,  the  mercy- 
seat,  the  propitiatory,  the  sacrifice,  High-priest,  and  all  in  all. 
Look  up — look  in — go  in,  my  soul,  after  him,  by  faith,  and 
contemplate  him  as  thy  Forerunner  ;  and  while  all  thy  facul- 
ties, in  grace  and  faith,  are  going  forth  in  the  most  lively 
exercise,  hear  him  say,  and  let  his  words  sink  deeper  and 
deeper  in  thine  unceasing  remembrance,  "  I  only  go  to  pre- 
pare for  you  a  place.  I  will  come  again,  and  receive  you  to 
myself,  that  where  I  am,  there  you  may  be  also."  Hail,  thou 
glorious  Forerunner,  who  art  made  an  High-priest  for  ever, 
after  the  order  of  Melchisedec  1 

21. — Fear  not ;  for  they  that  be  with  lis,  are  more  than  th  y  that  be 
with  them. — 2  Kings  vi.  16. 

My  soul !  never  lose  sight  of  this,  which  was  shown  to  the 
prophet's  servant  in  his  fright.  Though  thou  seest  not,  with 
bodily  eyes,  the  mountain  full  of  horses  and  chariots  of  fire 


228  MORNING   PORTION. 

in  thy  defence  ;  yet,  with  thy  spiritual  eyes,  thou  mayest  see, 
infinitely  beyond  all  this,  as  surrounding  thee  at  all  times 
and  in  all  places,  God  thy  Father,  with  all  his  divine  attri- 
butes and  perfections,  all  engaged,  all  made  over,  all  pledged 
in  covenant  engagements,  in  Jesus,  for  thy  defence,  protec- 
tion, comfort,  security,  and  guiding  thee  in  all  things.  There 
is  more  in  that  one  assurance  than  in  a  thousand  worlds,  / 
will  be  thy  God — and  all  in  Jesus  ;  yea  and  amen.  Then, 
moreover,  thou  hast  God  thy  Redeemer  with  thee,  with  all 
his  fulness,  all  his  grace,  all  his  love — his  whole  heart,  his 
whole  soul  thine.  And  thou  hast  God  the  Holy  Ghost,  with 
all  his  influences,  gift,  teachings,  .quickenings,  consolations, 
strengthenings.  All  these  are  with  thee  ;  to  say  nothing  of 
angels,  which  are  ministering  spirits,  sent  forth  to  minister 
unto  them  which  are  heirs  of  salvation.  Surely  God's  attri- 
butes, Jesus'  graces,  the  Holy  Ghost's  comforts,  being  all 
thine  own,  and  always  with  thee  ;  let  what  armies  of  men,  or 
legions  of  evil  spirits,  assault  thee — unbelief,  or  fear,  or  doubt, 
or  misgiving ;  let  nothing  driv^e  out  the  recollection,  nor  re- 
move thy  confidence :  fear  not ;  for  they  that  be  with  thee, 
are  more  than  all  that  can  be  against  thee.  Hallelujah ! 
Amen. 


22. — Seeking  for  Jesus. — John  vi.  24. 

This,  my  soul,  should  be  thy  constant  employment.  Wher- 
ever thou  art,  however  engaged ;  in  going  in,  or  out ;  at 
rising  up,  or  lying  down:  whether  in  public,  or  private,  in  the 
church,  or  market-place  ;  the  closet,  the  family,  the  garden, 
the  field,  the  house ;  the  question  ever  arising  in  the  heart 
should  be,  Where  is  Jesus  ?  Blessed  Spirit !  thou  glorifier 
of  my  Lord  !  wilt  thou  constantly  excite  this  seeking  for  Je- 
sus in  my  heart?  Wilt  thou.  Lord,  give  me  every  moment 
a  sense  of  need,  then  a  view  of  his  fulness,  suitableness,  rea- 
diness to  impart,  then  bring  Him,  whom  my  soul  loveth,  and 
me  together ;  and  then  open  a  communication,  in  leading  me 
forth  in  desire,  and  giving  me  faith  to  receive,  from  the  infi- 
nite fulness  of  my  Lord,  and  grace  for  grace  1  Lord  Jesus  ! 
I  would  desire  grace  to  seek  thee,  as  for  hidden  treasure.  I 
would  seek  thee,  and  thee  only,  oh  !  my  God.  I  would  se- 
parate myself  from  all  other  things.  It  is  Jesus  my  soul 
chooseth,  my  soul  needs.  I  would  trust  in  nothing  beside 
No  duties,  no  works  ;  neither  prayers  nor  repentance ;  no 
nor  faith  itself,  considered  as  an  act  of  my  soul,  shall  be  my 


AUGUST.  229 

comfort,  but  Jesus  alone  I  would  make  my  centre ;  and  every 
thought,  and  every  affection,  and  every  desire,  like  so  many 
streams  meeting  in  one,  should  all  pour  themselves,  as  rivers, 
into  the  ocean  of  thy  bosom  !  And  the  nearer,  as  a  stream 
that  draws  near  the  sea  is  propelled  to  fall  into  it,  so  the  more 
forcible  and  vehement  let  my  soul  be  in  desires  after  thee,  as 
my  soul  draweth  nearer  the  hour  of  seeing  thee.  Oh !  Lamb 
of  God !  give  me  to  be  seeking  after  thee  through  life,  pres- 
sing after  thee  from  one  ordinance  to  another ;  and  when  or- 
dinances cease,  and  all  outward  comforts  fail,  then.  Lord,  may 
I  gather  up  (as  the  dying  patriarch  did  his  feet  in  the  bed) 
all  my  strength,  and  pour  my  whole  soul  into  thine  arms, 
crying  out,  Iho.ve  icaitedfor  thy  salvation^  O  Lord. 

23. — The  beloved  physician. — Coloss.  iv.  14. 

My  soul !  catch  a  thought  of  what  the  apostle  here  speaks 
of  the  servant,  to  think  of  the  Master  !  If  Luke  the  phy- 
sician was  beloved,  how  much  more  so  ought  Jesus  to  be  by 
thee  in  this  sweet  character.  The  Son  of  God  came,  as  the 
great  Physician  of  the  soul,  to  heal  all  that  were  diseased,  to 
bind  up  the  broken  heart,  to  give  sight  to  the  blind,  to  set  at 
liberty  them  that  are  bound,  and  to  proclaim  the  acceptable 
year  of  the  Lord !  My  soul,  dost  thou  know  Jesus  in  this 
tender  and  affectionate  office?  Hath  he  examined  thy  case, 
made  thee  sensible  of  thy  disease;  and  art  thou,  through  his 
mercy,  restored  to  health?  Though,  through  shame  and 
fear  at  the  first,  you  would  never  have  made  known  your 
case  to  him,  had  he  not  first,  of  his  own  free  accord,  called 
upon  you,  yet  hath  he  done  so?  Have  you  heard  him  ask- 
ing the  tender  question.  Wilt  thou  be  made  whole  ?  And 
have  you  rejoiced  to  come  under  his  care  ?  Do  you  know 
what  it  is  to  have  his  blood  applied  to  heal  the  wounds  of  sin, 
his  righteousness  to  cover  them,  his  grace  to  refresh  under 
them,  and  his  name,  as  ointment  poured  forth,  to  make  a  fra- 
grancy  for  all  uncleanness  ?  Moreover,  hath  Jesus  shown  to 
thee  the  freeness  of  his  remedies,  without  payment,  without 
money,  and  without  price  ?  And  doth  he  do  all  this,  and  a 
thousand  affectionate  offices  beside,  which  belong  to  the  Phy- 
sician, calling  himself  by  that  endearing  name,  Jehovah 
Rhophi,  I  am  the  Lord  that  healeth  thee  ?  No  longer  let  it 
be  said,  then,  Is  there  no  balm  in  Gilead — no  physician 
there?  but  tell  to  every  poor  sin-sick  soul,  Jesus  is  the  be- 
loved Physician,  who  visits  the  poor  and  the  needy,  and  heals 

20 


230  MORNING   PORTION. 

all  manner  of  sickness,  and  all  manner  of  diseases  among  the 
people.     He  hath  healed  me  ! 

24. — God,  according  to  his  promise,  hath  raised  unto  Israel  a  Saviour, 
Jesus. — Acts  xiii.  23. 

Mark,  my  soul,  the  blessedness  of  these  words.  Jesus  is 
not  only  Israel's  Saviour,  and  hath  fully  answered,  in  every 
point,  to  that  glorious  character,  but  here  we  are  led  to  dis- 
cover his  credentials.  This  is  faith's  warrant — I  believe  in 
Jesus.  Why  ?  He  brings  with  him  the  name,  the  authority, 
the  commission  of  God  the  Father.  Jesus  is  the  appointment, 
the  ordinance,  the  method  Jehovah  hath  set  forth  for  salva- 
tion. Sweet  thought !  So  that,  added  to  all  that  I  behold  in 
the  Lord  Jesus  adapted  to  my  case  and  circumstances,  I  here 
see  that  Jesus  is  the  Father's  Gift,  the  Father's  Sent,  the  Fa- 
ther's Anointed,  full  of  grace  and  truth  !  Jesus  is  therefore 
the  great  Promise  of  the  Bible  ;  for  in  him  are  folded  up  and 
contained  all  the  promises.  And  I  see,  also,  that  God  our 
Father  was,  and  is,  the  great  Promiser !  And  I  see  that 
God  not  only  gave  this  rich  Saviour  to  poor  sinners,  but,  ac- 
cording to  his  promise,  raised  him  up  also  from  the  dead, 
when  he  had  made  his  soul  an  offering  for  sin,  to  bless  them: 
for  it  is  said,  that  he  was  delivered  for  our  offences,  and 
raised  again  for  our  justification.  My  soul!  pause  over  this 
blessed  account,  and  look  for  thine  own  interest  in  it.  If 
God  hath  raised  up  to  Israel  this  Saviour,  whatknowest  thou 
of  him?  Hast  thou  felt  thy  need  of  a  Saviour?  Dost  thou 
accept  the  Father's  Saviour  ?  Is  .Tesus  thy  Saviour  ?  Art 
thou  come  to  him  for  salvation  ?  Now  God  the  Father  hath 
raised  him  up,  doth  he  appear  to  thee  in  all  his  beauties,  ful- 
ness, suitableness,  and  complete  salvation? 

25. — And  his  servants  shall  serve  him.     And  they  shall  see  his  face  ; 
and  his  name  shall  be  in  their  foreheads. — Rev.  xxii.  3,  4. 

Mark  these  characters,  my  soul !  Jesus  hath  servants  ;  and 
they  are  distinguished  from  the  world.  They  serve  him. 
What  is  it  to  serve  Christ?  The  prophet  hath  described. 
Free  grace  hath  made  them  servants,  in  bringing  them  from 
the  bondage  of  corruption  into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  sons 
of  God  ;  and  therefore  he  saith,  in  the  Lord's  name,  "  My 
servants  shall  eat,  but  ye  shall  be  hungry;  my  servants  shall 
drink,  but  ye  shall  be  thirsty  ;  my  servants  shall  rejoice,  but 


AUGUST.  231 

ye  shall  be  ashamed ;  my  servants  shall  sing  for  joy  of  heart, 
but  ye  shall  cry  for  sorrow  of  heart."  How  distinguishinor 
these  characters  !  God's  servants  have  the  table  of  Jesus  to 
sit  down  to ;  the  bread  of  life,  the  bread  of  God,  the  living 
bread,  which  is  Jesus  himself,  to  feed  upon.  They  shall 
drink  also  ;  for  He  that  is  their  living  bread,  is  their  living 
water  also — even  the  water  of  life,  of  which  whosoever  drink- 
eth  shall  thirst  no  more  ;  but  it  shall  be  in  him  a  well  of  wa- 
ter springing  up  into  everlasting  life.  The  servants  of  the 
Lord  shall  rejoice,  and  sing  for  joy  of  heart  also !  Yes  ! 
the  kingdom  of  God  is  not  meat  and  drink,  but  righteousness, 
and  peace,  and  joy,  in  the  Holy  Ghost.  Neither  is  this  all. 
The  servants  of  the  Lord  shall  see  his  face.  They  do  now, 
by  faith,  in  his  word,  in  his  ordinances,  in  his  manifestations, 
visits,  grace,  and  providences  !  And,  by  and  by,  when  this 
vail  of  covering  cast  over  all  people,  is  totally  taken  down 
and  removed  at  death,  they  shall  have  a  glorious  view  of  the 
King  in  his  beauty  by  sight.  Moreover,  his  name  is  said  to 
be  in  their  foreheads.  Yes  !  It  is  so :  the  image  of  Christ 
is  impressed  upon  them,  as  "Holiness  to  the  Lord"  was  en- 
graven on  the  mitre  of  Aaron.  Beholding,  as  in  a  glass,  the 
glory  of  the  Lord,  they  are  changed  into  the  same  image, 
from  glory  to  glory,  even  as  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord.  My 
soul!  what  sayest  Ihou  to  these  evidences?  Are  they  thine? 
Canst  thou  take  the  comfort  of  them  to  thyself? 

26. — The  God  of  our  fathers  hath  glorified  his  Son  Jesus. — Acts  iii.  13. 

See,  my  soul,  how  every  part  and  portion  of  scripture  is 
directed  to  this  one  subject — to  glorify  the  Lord  Jesus  !  What 
is  the  very  design  of  redemption,  but  to  glorify  the  Lord 
Jesus?  What  hath  God  constituted  a  church  for,  but  to  glo- 
rify the  Lord  Jesus  ?  To  what  do  all  the  precepts,  promises, 
ordinances,  sacrifices  under  the  law,  and  institutions  under 
the  gospel,  minister,  but  to  this  one  end — to  glorify  the  Lord 
Jesus  ?  Talk  they  of  promises  ?  Why,  all  the  promises  of 
God  are,  in  Christ  Jesus,  yea  and  amen,  to  the  glory  of  God 
the  Father  by  us.  Talk  they  of  the  law  ?  Christ  is  the  end 
of  the  law  for  righteousness  to  every  one  that  believeth. 
Talk  they  of  commandments  ?  This  is  the  commandment — 
that  ye  believe  on  the  name  of  the  only  begotten  Son  of  God  ; 
and  that  believing,  ye  might  have  life  through  his  name. 
And  how  hath  the  God  of  our  fathers  glorified  his  Son  Jesus, 
in  giving  him  as  a  Covenant  to  the  people  ?     Hath  he  not 


232  MORNING   PORTION. 

constituted  him  the  glorious  Head,  the  Mediator,  the  Hus- 
band, the  Lord,  the  Prophet,  the  Priest,  the  King  of  his 
people?  How  hath  he  glorified  him  in  his  person,  offices, 
characters,  relations?  How  hath  he  carried  him  through  all 
the  parts  of  redemption,  in  his  incarnation,  ministry,  miracles, 
obedience,  life,  death,  resurrection,  ascension  ;  and  in  all  his 
triumphs  over  sin  and  Satan,  death,  hell,  and  the  grave? 
And  having  constituted  him  the  universal  and  eternal  Lord 
of  all,  commands  that  every  knee  should  bow  before  him,  and 
every  tongue  confess  that  Jesus  Christ  is  Lord,  to  the  glory 
of  God  the  Father  !  And  is  there  any  thing  left,  by  which 
the  God  of  our  fathers  might  manifest  that  he  hath  glorified 
his  Son  Jesus  ?  Yes !  there  is  one  thing  more,  my  soul,  by 
which  the  wonderful  grace  is  shown ;  and  that  is,  when  the 
God  of  our  fathers  hath  glorified  his  Son  Jesus  in  the  heart 
of  every  poor  sinner,  who  gives  the  glory  of  his  salvation 
fully,  heartily,  completely,  to  him,  and  puts  the  crown  of  re- 
demption upon  the  head  of  Jesus.  My  soul !  hast  thou  done 
this?  Hast  thou  glorified  Jesus  in  this  way,  the  only  way  in 
which  thou  canst  glorify  him,  and  the  Father  in  him?  Then, 
if  so,  what  a  sweet  thought  is  it,  that  the  God  of  our  fathers, 
and  thou,  a  poor  sinner,  are  both  agreed  in  this  one  blessed 
Avork,  to  glorify  Jesus.  And  here  both  meet,  in  the  only  pos- 
sible meeting-place  for  an  holy  God  and  unholy  men  to 
meet ;  and  both  are  engaged  in  one  and  the  same  deed — to 
glorify  Jesus  !  Oh !  thou  Lamb  of  God  !  be  thou  eternally 
glorified  in  my  salvation ! 

27 — I  have  exalted  one  chosen  out  of  the  people. — Psalm  Ixxxix.  19. 

My  soul !  wert  thou  refreshed,  on  the  past  day,  with  the 
precious  meditation  of  the  God  of  our  fathers  glorifying  his 
Son  Jesus.  Suffer  not,  then,  the  blessed  subject  to  pass  away 
from  thy  thouohts  this  day,  or  any  day  ;  but  look  at  the  same 
delightful  meditation  proposed  in  the  words,  which  God  spake 
to  his  Holy  One  in  vision — "  I  have  exalted  One  chosen  out 
of  the  people."  Yes!  the  Lord  Jesus,  as  Man  and  Mediator, 
was  chosen,  in  the  infinite  mind  of  Jehovah.  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghost,  from  everlasting.  And  before  that  God  went 
forth  in  the  immediate  acts  of  creation,  when  that  vast  mass 
of  beings  the  Lord  determined  to  call  into  existence  arose  in 
his  own  infinite  mind  at  his  command  ;  this  blessed  One,  this 
glorious,  this  distinguished,  this  precious  individual,  which 
was  to  become  One  with  the  uncreated  Word,  in  order  to 


AUGUST.  233 

constitute  the  Wisdom-man  Mediator,  was  from  everlasting 
chosen.  This  was  the  glorious  act — this  was  the  great  ap- 
pointment. Then  Christ  Jesus,  our  glorious  Head,  our 
Surety,  Redeemer,  Saviour,  was  then  set  up  from  everlasting. 
And,  my  soul,  hadst  thou  been  present,  had  there  been  a  pos- 
sibility of  such  a  thing,  had  the  whole  church  been  there, 
would  not  every  heart,  every  soul,  of  his  redeemed,  have 
shouted  aloud  in  the  contemplation  of  such  a  Saviour,  and 
cried  out,  "  He  is  the  altogether  lovely,  the  chiefest  among 
ten  thousand."  Precious  Jesus  !  thou  art  indeed  lovely  in 
thyself,  lovely  in  thy  cross,  lovely  in  thy  crown,  lovely  in 
all  thy  gracious  acts,  victories,  triumphs,  grace,  and  mercy. 
Every  thing  in  thee  is  lovely ;  and  thou  communicatest  love- 
liness to  all  thy  people.  Thou  hast  chosen  our  inheritance 
for  us — reign  and  rule  over  us,  and  in  us  ;  for  thou  art  The 
Lord  our  Righteousness. 

28. — The  creditor  is  come  to  take  unto  him  my  two  sons  to  be  bondmen. — 
2  Kings  iv.  1. 

My  soul!  how  doth  this  affect  thee?  Art  thou  in  debt? 
By  nature  and  by  practice  thou  wast  miserably  so,  unless  the 
debt  be  cancelled.  As  a  creature,  and  as  a  sinful  creature, 
thou  art  in  thyself  for  ever  insolvent.  Thou  hast  nothing  to 
pay,  and  art  shut  up  in  a  total  impossibility  ever  to  pay. 
And  how  much  owest  thou  unto  my  Lord  ?  Alas  !  my  soul, 
thou  owest  millions  of  debts  to  thy  Almighty  Creditor.  The 
law  thou  hast  broken :  justice  demands  retribution,  conscience 
condemns,  Satan  accuses ;  and  the  Creditor  is  come  to  take, 
not  thy  two  sons  only,  but  both  thy  two  parts,  soul  and  body, 
to  the  prison  of  death  and  hell,  unless  some  Almighty  Surety 
hath  stept  in  and  paid  the  dreadful  debt,  that  thou  mayest  be 
free.  At  death,  and  at  judgment  that  follows,  the  everlasting 
release,  or  the  everlasting  imprisonment,  will  take  place. 
And  who  knows  whether  the  decision  may  not  be  to-morrow; 
nay,  whether  the  same  sentence  as  went  forth  to  the  rich  man 
m  the  gospel  is  not  already  gone  forth  concerning  thee — 
"  This  night  thy  soul  shall  be  required  of  thee?"  Pause,  my 
soul !  Is  it  not  high  time  to  flee  to  the  Prophet,  even  to  the 
Prince  of  the  prophets,  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  tell  him  thy  case, 
and  to  seek  his  deliverance  ?  Hark  !  doth  he  say,  as  the 
prophet  did  to  the  poor  woman,  "  What  shall  I  do  for  thee  ? 
Tell  me  what  thou  hast  in  the  house  ?"  Is  not  Jesus  with 
thee?  Is  not  his  fulness  suited  to  thy  emptiness  ?  Hast  thou 
20* 


234  MORNING   PORTION. 

him  with  thee  in  the  house  ?  Shut  then  the  door :  bring, 
bring,  my  soul,  all  thy  empty  vessels — Jesus  will  fill  them 
all.  Nor  will  his  bounty  stay  until  that  all  thy  vessels  be 
filled ;  nay,  every  vessel  will  fail  before  that  his  grace  fails. 
And  when  thou  art  full  of  Jesus,  live  on  Jesus,  and  see  that 
Jesus  hath  paid  thy  Almighty  Creditor,  and  left  enough  for 
thee  to  live  on  for  ever.  Oh !  the  rapture  and  the  joy  when 
the  Almighty  Creditor  comes,  at  midnight,  or  at  cock-crowing, 
or  in  the  morning,  to  know  the  dreadful  debt  is  paid,  and  to 
hear  him  say,  "  Deliver  him  from  going  down  to  the  pit ; 
I  have  found  a  ransom  !" 


29. — Have  I  been  so  long  time  with  you,  and  yet  hast  thou  not  known 
me  ? — John  iv.  9. 

Pause,  my  soul,  over  this  question  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  which 
he  put  to  Philip — figure  to  thyself  that  the  Lord  saith  the 
same  to  thee ;  and  now  see  what  answer  thou  wilt  give  him. 
It  is  a  great  question:  and  if  thou  art  able  to  answer  it  with 
a — "  Yea,  Lord ;"  and,  from  the  blessed  Spirit's  teaching, 
thou  truly  knowest  Jesus  to  be  what  the  scripture  saith  he  is, 
and  canst  as  truly,  from  the  receiving  that  testimony  which 
God  hath  given  of  his  dear  and  ever-blessed  Son,  set  to  thy 
seal  that  God  is  true ;  then  art  thou  truly  happy,  and  mayest 
humbly  take  to  thyself  a  portion  in  that  blessedness,  which 
the  Lord  Jesus  pronounced  upon  Peter  from  the  same  grace 
manifested  :  "  Flesh  and  blood  hath  not  revealed  it  unto  thee, 
but  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven."  Pause  then  and  inquire, 
Dost  thou  know  who  Christ  is  ?  Art  thou  perfectly  satisfied, 
my  soul,  of  the  Oneness,  in  nature,  in  essence,  in  glory,  in 
will,  in  worship,  in  work,  in  design,  in  attributes,  perfections, 
power,  sovereignty ;  in  short,  in  all  and  every  thing  which 
constitutes  the  Godhead  between  the  Father,  and  the  Son,  and 
Spirit?  Oh,  yes,  my  soul  cries  out,  I  do,  through  the  teach- 
ing of  my  God,  most  firmly,  heartily,  and  cordially  believe 
that  Jesus  is  One  with  the  Father  over  all,  God  blessed  for 
ever.  Amen.  Pause  again,  my  soul,  and  say,  Dost  thou  as 
firmly  and  heartily  believe  that  thy  Jesus,  who,  in  the  divine 
nature  is  One  with  the  Father,  is  no  less  in  the  human  nature, 
which  he  united  to  the  Godhead  for  the  purposes  of  salvation, 
one  with  thee,  bone  of  thy  bone,  and  flesh  of  thy  flesh? 
Doth  this  make  an  equal  article  in  thy  creed?  Oh,  yes  ;  I 
am,  through  the  same  divine  teaching,  as  fully  and  perfectly 
convinced  that  He  who  is,  and  was,  and  ever  will  be,  the 


AUGUST.  235 

uncreated  Word,  was  made  flesh,  and  thereby  became  the 
true  Emmanuel,  God  with  us,  God  in  our  nature.  Pause 
once  more,  my  soul,  and  say.  Dost  thou  believe  that,  by  this 
union  of  God  and  man,  Jesus  became  the  true,  the  only,  the 
blessed  Mediator,  the  Christ  of  God,  the  Sent  of  God,  the 
Sealed  of  God,  the  Anointed  of  God,  the  Lamb  of  God,  the 
Word  of  God,  the  Wisdom  of  God,  and  the  Power  of  God, 
for  salvation  to  every  one  that  believeth?  Bow  down,  my 
soul,  with  unceasing  thanksgivings  and  praise,  to  the  Author 
and  Giver  of  faith,  for  the  stupendous  discoveries  he  hath 
made  to  thee  of  himself,  while  thou  cryest  out  in  transports 
of  rejoicing — Lord  !  all  this  I  believe ;  and  am  perfectly 
satisfied  that  thou  art  One  with  the  Father,  and  art  in  the 
Father,  and  the  Father  in  thee.  And  while  thou  thus  givest 
in  thy  testimony  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  wilt  thou  not,  my  soul, 
at  the  same  time,  under  a  conscious  sense  of  the  distinguishing 
mercy,  cry  out  also  with  the  astonished  disciple — "  Lord, 
how  is  it  that  thou  hast  thus  manifested  thyself  unto  me.  and 
not  unto  the  world?" 


30. — And  thou  shalt  remember  that  thou  wast  a  bondman  in  the  land 
of  Egypt,  and  the  Lord  thy  God  redeemed  thee. — Deut.  xv.  15. 

Say,  my  soul,  canst  thou  ever  forget  the  wormwood  and  the 
gall  of  that  state  of  nature,  from  which  the  Lord  thy  God 
brought  thee  ?  Figure  to  thyself  the  most  horrid  state  of 
captivity  which  the  world  ever  knew ;  and  what  could  the 
whole  be,  bounded,  as  it  must  be,  by  the  short  period  of  human 
life,  compared  to  the  everlasting  vassalage  of  sin  and  Satan, 
in  which  thou  didst  lay  when  Jesus  passed  by  and  brought 
thee  out  ?  No  galley-slave,  chained  to  the  oar,  could  equal 
thy  misery,  bound  with  the  chain  of  sm.  No  duration  of 
misery,  bounded  by  time,  equals  that  endless  state  of  woe  to 
which  thou  wast  exposed.  Thou  wert  a  bondman  to  the 
power  of  sin,  to  the  love  of  sin,  to  the  desire  of  sin,  to  the 
punishment  of  sin  ;  a  bondman  to  the  law  of  God,  to  the 
justice  of  God,  to  the  displeasure  of  God,  to  the  threatenings 
of  God  ;  a  bondman  to  thine  own  guilty  conscience  ;  a  bond- 
man to  thine  own  corrupt  lusts — not  one  lust,  but  many — 
serving,  as  the  apostle  saith,  divers  lusts  and  pleasures,  hateful, 
and  hating  one  another  ;  a  bondman  to  Satan — a  willing 
drudge — wearing  his  livery,  delighted  in  his  service,  though 
full  of  sorrow,  vexation,  and  disappointment,  and  his  wages 
sure  death ;  a  bondman  to  the  fear  of  many  creatures  among 


236  MORNING   PORTION. 

the  inferior  creation,  many  of  whom  had  continual  power  to 
vex  and  distress  thee ;  a  hondman  to  the  fear  of  death,  hell, 
and  a  judgment  to  come.  Was  this  thy  state,  my  soul,  by 
nature  and  by  practice  1  And  hath  One  like  the  Son  of  Man 
brought  thee  out  ?  Precious  Jesus  !  what  shall  I  say  to  thee 
— what  shall  I  say  for  thee  1  What  shall  I  render  to  the 
Lord  for  all  the  mercies  he  hath  done  to  me,  and  for  me  ? 
And  dost  thou  say,  Lord,  that  I  may  remember  that  bondage 
and  thy  redemption.  Oh,  may  my  tongue  cleave  to  the  roof 
of  my  mouth,  if  I  forget  thee,  thou  Author  of  all  my  joy,  and 
all  my  happiness  : — nay,  if  I  do  not  remember  thee,  and  prefer 
thy  love  more  than  wine.  In  life,  in  death,  and  to  all  eter- 
nity, may  my  soul  hang  upon  thee,  as  the  bee  upon  the  flower; 
and  let  the  fragrancy  of  thy  name  be  as  ointment  poured  forth, 

31. — One  thing  I  know,  that,  whereas  I  was  blind,  now  I  see. — Jno.  ix.  25. 

This  is  a  great  thing  to  say,  my  soul :  on  what  foundation 
dost  thou  rest  this  knowledge?  If  the  Lord  Jesus  hath 
opened  thine  eyes,  then  indeed  thou  canst  not  but  discover  thy 
former  blindness ;  for,  during  that  state  of  nature,  thou  liter- 
ally could  discern  nothing.  And  if  thy  former  blindness  be  dis- 
covered, then  thy  present  sight  hath  brought  thee  acquainted 
with  new  objects.  Pause  over  the  review  of  both  this  morn- 
ing. The  blindness  of  nature  to  spiritual  things  is  marked 
in. scripture  in  strong  characters.  A  poor  blind  sinner  sees 
nothing  of  the  light  of  hfe.  The  Sun  of  Righteousness  is  not 
risen  upon  him.  He  discerns  nothing  of  the  love  of  God  in 
Christ.  If  he  reads  the  scripture,  the  veil  is  upon  his  heart. 
If  he  hears  of  Jesus,  he  sees  no  beauty  in  him.  Nothing  is 
nearer  to  him  than  the  Lord,  and  nothing  further  from  his 
thoughts.  To  tell  him  of  the  sweetness  of  the  word  of  God, 
is  strange  to  him ;  for  he  tastes  nothing  of  sweetness  in  it. 
To  tell  him  of  the  loveliness  of  ordinances  and  the  sabbaths  ; 
these  are  strange  things  in  his  esteem.  My  soul,  if  indeed 
thine  eyes  be  opened,  thou  wilt  know  that  thou  wert  once  in- 
deed blind,  in  the  fullest  sense  of  the  word,  to  all  these  de- 
lightful views  of  sacred  things  which  now  are  thy  supreme 
pleasure  and  thy  joy.  Say,  then,  what  hast  thou  seen  to  justify 
this  saying,  "  One  thing  I  know,  that,  whereas  I  was  blind, 
now  I  see?"  Hast  thou  seen  the  King  in  his  beauty? 
Hast  thou  seen  with  the  eye  of  faith  the  glories  of  Jesus  ? 
Yes  !  if  so  be  all  other  objects  are  obscured.  The  sight  of  Je- 
sus, as  the  Christ  of  God,  hath  darkened  the  glory  and  excel- 


SEPTEMBER.  237 

lency  of  all  beside,  Jesus,  as  he  is  in  himself,  as  he  is  in  his 
offices,  characters,  relations — as  he  is  to  thee  and  thy  happi- 
ness— is  the  one,  the  only  one  thing  needful ;  and  thou  must 
count  all  things  but  dung  and  dross  to  win  Christ.  These, 
my  soul,  are  blessed  tokens  that  Jesus  hath  opened  thine  eyes, 
and  brought  thee  out  of  darkness  into  his  marvellous  light. 
By-and-by  thou  shalt  see  him  as  he  is,  and  dwell  with  him 
for  ever  ! 


SEPTEMBER. 


1. — And  his  name,  through  faith  in  his  name,  hath  made  this  man 
strong. — Acts  iii.  16. 

My  soul,  begin  this  month,  as  the  Lord  in  mercy  hath  en- 
abled thee  to  begin  some  that  are  past,  in  taking  the  name  of 
Jesus  for  thy  theme.  Let  his  name  be  as  ointment  poured 
forth,  whose  fragrancy  shall  make  thee  strong,  as  it  made  the 
poor  man  whole.  And  as  the  Lord  hath  opened  a  new  mouth 
to  thee  in  grace,  do  thou  take  up  his  name,  through  faith  in 
his  name,  in  praise  and  prayer.  And  see  to  it,  my  soul,  that 
through  the  month,  and  indeed  the  whole  of  life,  thou 
improve  his  name  in  every  case,  in  every  want,  in  every 
need.  Depend  upon  it,  his  name  w^ill  answer  all.  What- 
ever thy  necessities  are,  in  Jesus'  name  there  is  a  supply  for 
all.  Art  thou  poor  ?  he  is  rich :  sick  ?  he  is  thy  health : 
weak?  he  is  strong:  sinful?  he  is  The  Lord  thy  Righ- 
teousness. Every  thing,  and  in  every  way,  upon  all  ac- 
counts, and  upon  all  occasions — his  name,  through  faith  in 
his  name,  is  the  universal  charm,  the  everlasting  remedy, 
supply,  comfort,  strength,  of  all.  Jesus  hath  every  thing,  and 
all  things  ;  and  he  hath  them  all  for  his  people.  Oh  !  then, 
my  soul,  look  to  Him  and  his  name  for  the  suited  grace  in 
every  time  of  need.  He  will,  as  the  psalmist  sweetly  reasons, 
— he  will,  nevertheless,  (notwithstanding  all  thy  undeservings, 
this  7ievertheless  is  still  in  the  covenant,)  he  \\i\\  save  for  his 
name's  sake,  that  he  might  make  his  mighty  power  to  be 
known. 


^^  MORNING   PORTION. 

2. — The  Lord,  the  God  of  hosts,  shall  be  with  you,  as  ye  have  spoken.— 
Amos  V.  14. 

My  soul,  pause  over  this  precious  scripture,  and  ask  thy- 
self. Is  it  indeed  confirmed  to  thy  experience  ?  And  do  re- 
mark how  the  promise  of  the  Old  Testament  scripture  is  con- 
firmed in  the  New.  Jesus  assured  the  same,  when  he  said, 
"  If  a  man  love  me,  he  will  keep  my  words :  and  my 
Father  will  love  him,  and  we  will  come  and  make  our 
abode  with  him."  Pause,  my  soul,  again,  and  see  whether 
both  Testaments  concurring  in  the  same,  and  the  Holy  Ghost 
ever  abiding  with  the  Lord's  people,  to  confirm  his  word  in  the 
heart ;  are  not  these  promises  thine,  and  art  thou  not  everlast- 
ingly enjoying  them  ?  Precious  Jesus  !  morning  by  morn- 
ing would  I  besiege  thy  mercy-seat  to  put  thee  in  mind  of 
this  promise,  which,  in  its  blessedness  comprehends  every 
other.  If  the  Lord  the  God  of  hosts  be  with  me  ;  if  the  Fa- 
ther graciously  come:  if  the  Son  himself  come,  both  to  make 
their  abode,  not  as  a  way-faring  man  that  turneth  in  to  tarry 
for  a  night,  but  to  make  their  abode ;  and  if  the  Holy  Ghost 
abide  with  me  for  ever — oh,  the  blessedness  of  such  a  state, 
the  glory  of  such  company  !  Lord,  I  pray,  be  it  unto  me  ac- 
cording to  thy  word. 

3. — Let  not  the  wise  man  glory  in  his  wisdom,  neither  let  the  mighty 
man  glory  in  his  might,  let  not  the  rich  man  glory  in  his  riches  ;  but 
let  him  that  glorieth,  glory  in  this,  that  he  understandeth  and  know- 
eth  me,  that  I  am  the  Lord. — Jeremiah  ix.  23,  24. 

And  didst  thou,  my  poor,  proud,  vain,  sinful  heart,  after  so 
much  as  hath  been  said  to  thee  of  Jesus,  and  so  much  as  thou 
hast  been  feelingly  taught  thy  want  of  Jesus — didst  thou  need 
this  precept  ?  Oh,  yes,  my  soul,  every  day  it  had  need  be 
sounded  in  thy  ears,  and  wrote  over  again  by  the  Holy  Ghost 
upon  thine  heart.  Now  it  is.  Lord  Jesus,  I  learn  from  hence 
why  thou  art  so  suited  to  a  poor  convinced  sinner.  Thou, 
and  thou  only,  art  the  Lord  our  Righteousness  ;  and  therefore 
let  those  that  know  not  their  own  worthlessness,  nor  thy 
glory,  boast  in  what  they  may ;  let  others  talk  of  what  they 
will ;  I  see  plain  enough  there  is  nothing  out  of  thee  for  a 
poor  soul  to  rejoice  in.  The  wise  man  hath  no  wisdom,  but  in 
thee;  nor  the  mighty  man  strength,  nor  the  rich  man  riches; 
but  if  thou  art  my  portion,  thou  art  made  of  God  to  me,  both 
wisdom,  righteousness,  sanctification,  and  redemption ;  and 
then  indeed  I  shall  glory  in  the  Lord. 


SEPTEMBER.  239 

4. — A  just  God,  and  a  Saviour. — Isaiah  xlv.  21. 

My  soul,  hast  thou  learnt,  from  the  teaching  of  God  the 
Holy  Ghost,  to  contemplate  him  with  whom  thou  hast  to  do, 
under  these  blessed  united  characters?  If  thou  hast,  thou 
hast  found  it  a  blessed  and  an  approved  way  of  opening 
communion  with  God,  and  maintaining  that  communion 
alive  in  the  soul.  Thou  knowest,  then,  that  God,  as  a  just 
God,  can  admit  of  no  pardon  to  sin,  but  upon  the  footing  of  a 
complete  satisfaction ;  for,  without  this,  his  truth  and  justice 
would  still  be  violated  by  unatoned  sin.  But  if  thou  behold- 
est  God  in  Christ,  reconciling  the  world  to  himself,  and  hast 
been  taught  by  the  Spirit  that  Christ  hath  redeemed  thee 
from  the  curse  of  the  law,  being  made  a  curse  for  thee ;  that 
as  thy  Surety  and  thy  Representative,  he  hath  paid  thy  debt, 
and  restored  that  which  he  took  not  away ;  here  thou  behold- 
est  indeed  "  a  just  God,  and  a  Saviour,"  and  hast  learnt  that 
precious,  blessed  truth,  how  God  can  be  just,  and  the  justifier 
of  every  poor  sinner  that  believeth  in  Jesus.  See  to  it,  then, 
my  soul,  that  thou  keepest  this  precious  thought  always  in 
view.  Always  blend  together,  in  all  thy  approaches  to  a 
mercy-seat,  that  thou  art  approaching  "a  just  God,  and  a 
Saviour."  jNever  lose  sight  of  the  high  demands  of  God's 
righteous  law  ;  neither  the  perfect  worth  and  efficacy  of  Je- 
sus in  his  blood  and  righteousness:  and  connect  always 
with  the  blessed  view  thine  own  personal  interest  in  that 
obedience  by  thy  union  with  him.  Then  wilt  thou  as  much 
delight  in  God's  justice  as  his  mercy ;  and  his  holiness  will 
be  as  dear  to  thee  as  his  love.  Then  wilt  thou  understand 
that  blessed  truth,  and  join  issue  with  it  in  every  part. — 
Surely  shall  one  say,  "  In  the  Lord  have  I  righteousness 
and  strength ;  even  to  him  shall  men  come  ;  and  all  that 
believe  in  him  shall  not  be  ashamed  nor  confounded,  world 
without  end." 


5. — The  praise  of  all  his  saints. — Psalm  cxlviii.  14. 

And  who  is  this,  my  soul,  but  Jesus  ?  Is  he  not  indeed 
both  the  praise  and  the  glory,  the  delight  and  the  joy,  the 
portion  and  the  happiness,  of  all  his  people?  His  saints, 
doth  it  say?  Yes  !  saints  made  so  by  his  righteousness  and 
salvation,  when  taken  from  among  sinners ;  and  when  them- 
selves sinners.  He  hath  washed  them  in  his  blood,  clothed 
tiiem  with  his  garment  of  salvation,  and  granted  them  an  in- 


240  MORNING   PORTION, 

heritance  among  the  saints  in  light !  And  is  he  not  their 
praise?  Indeed,  is  there  any  other  the  object  of  their  praise, 
to  whom  they  look  up,  in  whom  they  delight,  but  Him,  in 
whom  God  their  Father  hath  made  them  accepted  in  Him, 
the  Beloved  1  Say  then,  my  soul,  is  he  not  thy  praise,  this 
day ;  and  will  he  not  be  thine  everlasting,  unceasing  praise, 
every  day,  and  all  the  day,  and  through  the  endless  day  of 
eternity  ?  Who  shall  be  thy  praise  but  Jesus ;  his  beauty, 
his  glory,  his  excellency,  in  whom  all  divine  perfections 
centre  ?  Who  shall  be  thy  praise  but  Jesus,  the  Mediator, 
the  Christ  of  God,  whose  glory  it  is  to  redeem  poor  sinners, 
and  make  them  saints ;  to  give  out  of  his  fulness,  and  grace 
for  grace?  Who  shall  be  thy  praise  but  he  that  hath  made 
thy  peace  in  the  blood  of  his  cross,  and  ever  liveth  to  make 
intercession  for  thee  ?  Oh  !  thou  fair  and  lovely  One,  the 
chiefest  among  ten  thousand  ;  thou  art  my  praise,  my  glory, 
my  song,  my  rejoicing !  Every  day  will  I  praise  thee : 
morning  by  morning  will  I  hail  thy  name,  and  night  by 
night  testify  thy  faithfulness.  Here,  while  upon  earth,  will 
I  unceasingly  speak  of  thy  praise  ;  and,  ere  long,  I  shall 
join  the  happy  multitude  above,  in  that  song — To  Him  that 
hath  loved  us^  and  washed  us  from  our  si7is  in  his  own  blood  ! 
Oh !   thou  that  art  the  praise  of  all  thy  saints  ! 

6. — And  the' Lord  turned,  and  looked  upon  Peter. — Luke  xxii.  61. 

My  soul !  hath  that  eye,  that  looked  so  graciously  upon 
Peter,  looked  graciously  upon  thee  ?  Pause,  and  determine 
the  point  by  the  effects.  Peter  went  out  and  wept  bitterly. 
Hath  such  impressions  of  grace  been  upon  thee,  my  soul  ? 
Hast  thou  wept  over  the  recollection  of  sin  and  a  ruined 
nature,  which  is  continually  manifesting  itself  in  the  san>e 
faithlessness  and  worthlessness  as  in  the  apostle  ?  Moreover, 
hast  thou  ever  looked  with  an  eye  of  faith  and  love  to  Jesus  ? 
If  so,  it  must  have  been  wrought  by  this  eye  of  Christ  upon 
thee,  my  soul :  for,  mark  it,  we  never  look  to  him  with  an 
eye  of  faith,  until  Jesus  hath  first  looked  on  us  with  an  eye 
of  love.  If  we  love  him,  it  is  because  he  first  loved  us. 
Sweet  testimony  this,  if  so  be  thou  hast  it  in  thine  experience, 
that  he  that  turned  and  looked  upon  Peter,  hath  looked  on 
thee  also.  Moreover,  any  thing  short  of  this  glance  of 
Jesus'  eye,  is  short  of  all  to  induce  true  repentance.  Peter 
heard,  unmoved,  again  and  again,  the  crowing  of  the  cock ; 
just  as  we  hear,  unmoved,  the  warnings  of  God's  holy  word 


SEPTEMBER.^  241 

in  his  scriptures ;  until  Jesus  accompanied  the  crowing  ot 
the  cock,  which  he  had  admonished  the  apostle  concerning, 
with  his  tender  and  remonstrating  look  :  then,  and  not  before, 
the  blessed  effects  were  wrought.  Oh!  precious  Master! 
turn,  I  beseech  thee,  and  look  on  me  ;  and  let  that  look  enter 
my  very  soul,  that  I  may  look  on  thee  whom  I  have  pierced, 
and  mourn,  as  one  that  mourneth  for  his  only  son,  and  be  in 
bitterness  as  one  that  is  in  bitterness  for  his  first-born.  Let 
all  my  soul's  affection  be  continually  going  out  after  the  look 
of  Jesus,  until  eye-strings  and  heart-strings  break  and  give 
way ;  and  when  they  close  in  the  sleep  of  death,  may  I, 
with  the  eyes  of  the  soul,  behold  thy  face  in  righteousness, 
that  I  may  be  satisfied  when  I  awake  with  thy  likeness. 

7. — For  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  saith,  that  he  hateth  putting  away. — 
Malachi  ii.  16. 

And  well  is  it  for  thee,  my  soul,  that  he  doth :  for  if  the 
Lord  God  of  Israel  had  dealt  by  thee  once,  as  thou  hast  been 
dealing  with  him  always^  thou  would  est  have  been  ruined 
for  ever.  But  what  is  the  cause  of  thy  mercies  ?  Is  it  not 
the  covenant  faithfulness  of  God  thy  Father,  founded  in  his 
own  everlasting  love,  engaged  in  his  promise  and  his  oath,  to 
Jesus,  and  secured  in  his  blood  and  righteousness  ?  And  is 
this  the  cause  why  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  hateth  putting 
away  ?  Oh !  for  grace  to  see  the  cause,  to  adore  the  mercy ; 
and  where  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  rests,  there,  my  soul,  do 
thou  rest  also !  See  to  it,  my  soul,  that  thy  life  of  faith,  and 
thy  life  of  hope,  are  both  founded  in  Jesus,  and  not  in  the 
sense  thou  hast  of  these  precious  things.  The  things  are  the 
same,  how  different  soever,  at  different  times,  thy  view  of 
them  may  be.  The  everlasting  worth,  the  everlasting  ef- 
ficacy, of  Jesus'  blood  and  righteousness,  is  always  the  same  ; 
and  his  people's  interest  in  it  the  same,  although,  from  the 
different  view  we  have  of  it,  at  different  times,  it  seems  as  if 
sometimes  it  were  lost,  and  our  own  state  was  worse  and 
worse.  My  soul !  upon  such  occasions  call  to  mind  this 
sweet  scripture :  "  The  Lord  God  of  Israel  saith,  that  he 
hateth  putting  away."  Observe,  the  Lord  not  only  doth  hate 
putting  away,  but  he  saith  it,  that  his  people  may  know  it, 
and  properly  esteem  his  unchanging  love.  Oh !  to  cry  out 
under  the  assurance  of  this  precious  truth,  and  to  feel  the 
blessedness  of  what  the  Lord  saith  by  his  servant  the  pro- 
phet :  "  The  Lord  thy  God  in  the  midst  of  thee  is  mighty  : 
21 


242  MORNING    PORTION. 

i 

he  will  save ;  he  will  rejoice  over  thee  with  joy,  he  will  rest 
in  his  love,  he  will  joy  over  thee  with  singing." 

8. — Ye  have  dwelt  long  enough  m  this  mount. — Deut.  i.  6. 

Pause,  my  soul,  and  remark  the  gracious  words  of  God 
to  Israel.  They  were  just  entering  the  borders  of  Canaan 
at  that  time.  Forty  years  long  had  they  been  in  a  wilderness 
state  :  many  ups  and  downs,  battles  and  restings,  conflicts  and 
trials.  God  graciously  said,  "  It  is  long  enough."  There  is 
a  rest  that  remaineth  for  the  people  of  God.  Hark,  my  soul ! 
doth  Jesus  speak  to  thee  to  the  same  amount  ?  Hast  thou 
indeed  dwelt  long  enough  in  this  mount  of  exercises,  sin, 
sorrow,  and  temptation  ?  Hast  thou  seen  enough  of  the 
emptiness  of  all  creature-comforts  to  satisfy  thee  ?  Hast  thou 
felt  enough  of  a  body  of  sin  and  death,  which  drags  down 
the  soul,  to  make  thee  groan  under  it,  being  burdened?  Is 
there  any  thing  now  worth  living  for?  Are  not  the  glories 
above  worth  dyi7ig  for  ?  Doth  Jesus  call  thee,  invite  thee, 
allure  thee,  to  come  up  to  the  Canaan  which  he  hath  taken 
possession  of  in  the  name  of  his  redeemed ;  and  wilt  thou 
not  mount  up  upon  the  wings  of  faith,  love,  and  longing  de- 
sire, to  be  for  ever  with  the  Lord?  Doth  Jesus  say,  Thou 
hast  dwelt  long  enough  here  below?  And  wilt  thou  not  say 
the  same  ?  Doth  Jesus  call  thee  to  his  arms  ;  and  wilt  thou 
say,  Not  yet.  Lord  ?  Ah  !  my  soul,  art  thou  indeed  in  love 
with  this  prison  ?  Dost  thou  wish  to  wear  thy  chains  a  little 
longer?  And  is  this  thy  kindness  to  thy  Friend?  Precious 
Lord  !  break  down  every  intervening  thought  or  passion  that 
would  rob  thee  of  thy  glory,  and  my  soul  of  thy  presence ; 
and  give  me  to  cry  out — Hasten,  my  Beloved !  and  be  thou 
as  a  young  hart  upon  the  mountains  of  Bether. 

9. — In  those  days,  and  in  i.hat  time,  saith  the  Lord,  the  iniquity  of  Israel 
shall  be  sought  for,  and  there  shall  be  none  ;  and  the  sins  of  Judah, 
and  they  shall  not  be  found :  for  I  will  pardon  them  whom  I  reserve. — 
Jer.  1.  20. 

What  those  days  and  that  time  refer  to  is  very  plain, 
namely,  the  day  when  the  great  trumpet  shall  be  blown,  and 
when  they  shall  come  which  were  ready  to  perish :  the  glo- 
rious days  of  gospel  grace  by  Jesus.  For  God  the  Father, 
having  appointed  and  accepted  a  Surety  for  poor  sinners,  in 
the  blood  and  righteousness  of  his  dear  Son,  beholds  no 


SEPTEMBER.  243 

iniquity  in  Jacob,  nor  perverseness  in  Israel.  Blessed  thought 
to  comfort  a  poor  soul !  that,  seen  in  Christ,  and  accepted  in 
the  Beloved,  there  is  no  condemnation  to  them  that  are  in 
Christ  Jesus,  who  walk  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the 
Spirit.  Pause,  my  soul,  over  this  precious  scripture,  and 
take  to  thyself  the  comforts  of  it.  If  thou  art  in  Christ,  thou 
art  beheld  righteous  in  his  righteousness ;  and,  as  thy  Surety, 
what  he  wrought  and  what  he  suffered  was  for  thee.  So 
that,  in  this  sense,  thou  art,  as  Christ  tells  the  church,  all  fair, 
and  there  is  no  spot  in  thee.  So  that,  amidst  all  thy  groans 
for  the  remains  of  indwelling  sin,  (and  groan  thou  dost 
daily,)  and  as  thou  sometimes  art  prompted  to  think,  there  is 
growing  imperfection  in  thee ;  yet  in  Jesus,  as  thou  art  found 
and  beheld  in  him,  sin  is  pardoned,  and  thy  person  accepted  ; 
and  thou  art  in  a  state  of  justification  before  God,  in  the 
righteousness  of  God  thy  Saviour.  And  as  this  is  so  essen- 
tial to  be  known  and  enjoyed,  see  to  it,  my  soul,  that  thou 
livest  upon  it.  Go,  in  the  strength  of  Christ's  righteousness, 
every  day  to  the  throne,  pleading  that  righteousness,  and  that 
only.  And  under  a  perfect  conviction,  that  not  a  single  sin 
of  thine  was  left  out  when  Jesus  bore  the  sins  of  his  people 
on  the  tree,  beg  for  grace  to  exercise  faith,  and  to  know  that 
in  Jesus  thou  art  justified  before  God,  and  that  God  hath 
cast  all  thy  sins  into  the  depth  of  the  sea.  Oh  !  the  depth  of 
the  riches,  both  of  the  wisdom  and  goodness  of  God.  What 
shall  separate  from  the  love  of  Christ?  Surely  not  sin:  for 
Jesus  hath  put  away  sin  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself  The 
law  of  God  cannot:  for  that  law  Jesus,  as  the  sinner's  Surety, 
hath  satisfied.  And  justice,  so  far  from  condemning,  now 
approves.  God  is  just  to  his  dear  Son,  as  our  Surety,  who 
hath  answered  all  the  demands  of  sin,  and  therefore  hath 
forgiven  sin,  and  cleansed  from  all  unrighteousness.  Blessed 
thought !  in  this  way  sin  is  pardoned  in  Christ ;  and  in  that 
day,  when  God  shall  arise  to  judgment,  the  sin  of  Judah, 
and  the  iniquity  of  Israel,  cannot  be  found. 

10. — While  the  king  sitteth  at  his  table,  my  spikenard  sendeth  forth  the 
smell  thereof. — So7ig  i.  12. 

That  was  a  precious  testimony  Mary  gave  of  her  love  to 
Jesus ;  and  Jesus  himself  hath  given  his  approbation  of  it, 
when  she  anointed  Jesus'  feet  with  the  spikenard.  God  our 
Father  hath  anointed  his  dear  Son  ;  and  so  ought  we.  Surely 
God's  Anointed  should  be  our  Anointed :  and  if  Mary  poured 


244  MORNING    PORTION. 

forth  the  hes't  of  her  offerings,  my  soul,  do  thou  the  same. 
Indeed,  while  the  king  sitteth  at  his  table,  and  reigneth  in 
thine  heart,  the  graces  will  flow.  Yes,  thou  heavenly  King ! 
when  thou  spreadest  thy  table,  and  callest  thy  redeemed  as 
thy  guests  ;  while  thou  suppest  with  them,  and  they  with 
thee:  the  humble  spikenard,  in  the  heart  of  a  sinner,  awa- 
kened by  thy  grace,  and  brought  forth  into  exercise,  will  send 
forth  all  that  shall  testify  love,  and  praise,  and  affection,  and 
duty,  and  regard.  Do  thou  then,  dearest  Lord  !  sit  as  a  king 
frequently  at  thy  table.  Let  me  hear  thy  gracious  invitation : 
"  Eat,  O  friends  !  yea,  drink  abundantly,  O  beloved  !"  And 
oh !  thou  heavenly  Master  !  as  all  at  the  table  is  thine  ;  the 
bread  of  life,  the  water  of  life,  the  wine  of  thy  banquet — and 
all  is  thine  own,  and  of  thine  own  do  thy  redeemed  give  thee  ; 
let  me  hear  thy  voice,  let  me  see  thy  countenance.  And 
while  thou  givest  forth  thyself  with  all  thy  fulness,  oh !  let 
my  poor  spikenard  send  forth  faith  and  grace  in  lively  exer- 
cise, that  I  may  eat  of  thy  flesh,  and  drink  of  thy  blood,  and 
have  eternal  life  abidinir  in  me. 


11. — For  thou  hast  been  a  strength  to  the  poor,  a  strength  to  the  needy 
in  his  distress,  a  refuge  from  the  storm,  a  shadow  from  the  heat,  when 
the  blcist  of  the  terrible  ones  is  as  a  storm  agamst  the  wall. — Isaiah 
xxi.  4. 

Who  so  poor  as  Jesus'  poor  ?  Who  so  needy  as  the  needy 
of  the  Redeemer  ?  The  world  knoweth  them  not,  because  it 
knew  him  not.  And  as  the  Master  was,  so  are  his  servants 
in  this  world.  But,  my  soul,  observe  how  sweetly  Jesus  is 
all  this.  A  strength  to  the  poor  in  his  distress,  by  taking  all 
the  storm  himself  He  is  a  shadow  from  the  heat,  the  heat 
of  the  wrath  of  a  broken  law,  which  Jesus  bore  himself,  when 
he  died  to  expiate  the  breaches  of  it.  His  blood  and  righ- 
teousness cool  the  heat  of  sin,  and  quench  all  the  fiery  darts 
of  the  wicked :  these  terrible  ones  which  beat  upon  a  poor 
sinner,  like  a  storm  against  the  wall.  Moreover,  when  the 
showers  of  wrath  shall  fall  at  the  last  day  on  the  wicked  ; 
when  that  horrible  tempest  of  fire  and  brimstone,  the  Psalmist 
speaks  of,  shall  come  down  on  the  ungodly  ;  Jesus  will  be 
an  hiding-place  from  the  storm,  and  a  covert  from  the  tem- 
pest: not  a  drop  can  fall  on  those  that  are  undr  him,  and 
sheltered  by  his  blood  and  righteousness.  As  the  church  is 
now  said  to  sit  under  his  shadow  with  great  delight  in  this 
wilderness  state,  and  his  fruit  sweet  to  her  taste ;  so  when 


SEPTEMBER.  245 

she  is  fairly  come  up  out  of  it,  having  all  along  leaned  upon 
her  Beloved,  and  having  entered  with  him  into  his  glory ; 
there  will  be  both  security  and  delight,  everlasting  safety  and 
joy.  Precious  Jesus  !  thou  hast  been  a  strength  indeed  to 
my  poor  soul ;  and  thou  wilt  be  my  portion  for  ever  !  Oh ! 
give  me  to  see  my  daily  need  of  thee,  to  feel  my  poverty  and 
weakness :  the  exercises  of  persecution,  both  without  and 
within  ;  that  from  all  the  terrors  of  the  law,  the  claims  of 
guilt  in  the  conscience,  the  remains  of  indwelling  sin  in  a 
body  of  death,  which  is  virtually  all  sin — the  accusations  of 
Satan,  the  just  judgments  of  God  ;  in  thee,  thou  One  glorious 
Ordinance  of  heaven,  precious  Lord  Jesus !  I  may  behold 
myself  secure  in  thee,  and  continually  cry  out,  in  the  language 
of  thy  servant  the  prophet :  Surely  shall  one  say^  In  the  Lord 
have  I  righteousness  and  strength  ;  even  to  thee  do  I  come ; 
and  never  shall  I  be  ashamed  or  confounded,  loorld  without  end. 

12. — And  as  Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent  in  the  wilderness,  even  so  must 
the  Son  of  man  be  lifted  up  ;  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should 
not  perish,  but  have  eternal  life. — John  iii.  14y  15. 

Pause,  my  soul,  over  these  words,  and  remember  that  they 
are  the  words  of  Jesus,  Call  to  mind  the  wonderful  event, 
to  which  Christ  refers,  in  the  church's  history,  in  the  wilder- 
ness, as  related.  Numb.  xxi.  5,  9.  Israel  had  sinned  :  and 
the  Lord  sent  fiery  flying  serpents  among  the  people,  which 
bit  them,  and  they  died.  In  their  distress  they  cried  unto  the 
Lord  ;  and  the  Lord  appointed  this  method  of  cure : — A 
figure  of  a  serpent  was  made  in  brass,  to  which  Israel  w^as 
commanded  to  look  only,  and  be  healed.  They  who  did  so, 
lived.  If  any  refused,  he  died.  This  was  the  ordinance  of 
God.  "  Now,"  saith  Jesus,  "  as  Moses,  at  the  command  of 
God,  lifted  up  the  serpent,  so  must  I  be  lifted  up  ;  that  who- 
soever believeth  in  me  shall  never  perish,  but  have  eternal 
life."  Now,  my  soul,  mark  what  the  Saviour  saith,  and  see 
the  blessedness  contained  in  his  precious  assurance.  It  was 
a  serpent  that  stung  the  Israelites  !  It  was  the  old  serpent, 
the  devil,  which  poisoned  our  nature  at  the  fall.  All  his 
temptations,  assaults,  and  poisons,  are  fiery.  And  when  the 
dreadful  effects  of  sin  are  felt  in  the  awakened  conscience, 
how  do  they  burn  with  terrors  in  the  soul  1  What  could  the 
dying  Israelite  do,  to  heal  those  venomous  bites  ? — Nothing. 
Would  medicine  cure  % — No.  Was  there  no  remedy  within 
the  power  of  man  ? — No  ;  it  baffled  all  art — it  resisted  all  at- 

21* 


246  MORNING   PORTION. 

tempts  to  heal.  Such  is  sin.  No  prayers,  no  tears,  no  en- 
deavours, no  repentance,  can  wash  away  sin.  If  the  sinner 
be  restored,  it  must  be  by  the  interposition  and  mercy  of  God 
alone.  Now  observe  the  method  God  took  with  Israel.  A 
figure  of  brass :  and  if,  as  some  men  tell  us,  any  thing  shi- 
ning like  brass,  to  look  upon  when  the  head  and  brain  is  dis- 
eased, would  make  the  person  mad  ;  so  far  was  this  serpent 
of  brass  likely  to  cure,  that  it  was  the  most  unpromising  thing 
in  the  world  to  accomplish  it.  But  yet  it  was  God's  com- 
mand ;  and  that  was  enough.  It  infallibly  cured.  Look 
now  to  Christ.  Here  also  is  God's  appointment,  God's  com- 
mand, God's  authority.  Christ  was  made  in  the  likeness  of 
sinful  flesh  ;  and  though  holy  in  himself,  yet  becoming  sin 
for  us,  that  we  might  be  made  the  righteousness  of  God  in 
him.  This  single  precept  is,  "  Look  unto  me,  and  be  ye 
saved."  What,  must  I  do  nothing,  bring  nothing,  take  no- 
thing?— No,  The  answer  is,  "  Look  unto  me."  This  is  the 
appointed  way.  Christ  is  the  One  only  Ordinance ;  Christ 
is  the  Altar,  Offering,  High-priest.  "  If  thou  liftest  up  thy 
tool  upon  it,  thou  hast  polluted  it."  Christ  is  the  Father's 
gift  for  healing.  In  Jesus  there  is  a  fulness  to  heal.  Faith, 
then,  hath  a  double  plea — the  authority  of  God  the  Father, 
and  the  fulness  of  salvation  in  God  the  Son.  Lord  !  I  take 
this  for  my  warrant.  Help  me,  thou  blessed  Spirit !  so  to 
look,  so  to  depend  ;  so  to  fix  my  whole  soul,  on  this  complete 
remedy  for  all  my  need,  that  heaven  and  earth  may  witness 
for  me,  I  seek  salvation  in  no  other,  being  most  fully  con- 
vinced that  there  is  salvation  in  no  other  ;  neither  is  there 
any  other  name  under  heaven,  given  among  men,  whereby 
we  must  be  saved. 


13. — And  thou  shall  write  them  upon  the  posts  of  thine  house,  and  on 
thy  gates. — Deut.  vi.  9. 

See,  my  soul,  what  a  gracious  provision  the  Lord  made 
for  the  glory  and  honour  of  his  Israel,  that  every  traveller 
passing  by  might  say,  "  Here  dwelleth  an  Israelite  indeed  ! 
He  hath  the  name  of  the  Lord  of  .hosts  upon  his  house!" 
And  did  it  please  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  so  to  have  his  people 
known ;  and  shall  it  not  be  my  desire  to  have  thy  name. 
Lord,  upon  the  gates  of  my  house  ?  Shall  any  pass  by  my 
door  ignorant  that  a  lover  of  the  Lord  Jesus  dwelleth  there? 
Nay,  shall  I  not  esteem  it  my  highest  honour  to  have  it 
known  whose  I  am,  and  whom  I  serve,  in  the  gospel  of  his 


SEPTEMBER.  247 

dear  Son  ?  Shall  I  be  ashamed  of  that  name  before  which 
every  knee  bows  in  heaven  and  in  earth  ?  Oh,  Lord,  Jesus ! 
not  only  write  thy  name  upon  the  gates  of  my  house,  but  en- 
grave it  in  the  centre  of  my  heart,  my  affections  ;  my  first, 
and  last,  and  earliest,  and  latest  thoughts  !  Let  it  be  my  rap- 
ture and  my  joy,  to  speak  out  of  the  abundance  of  my  heart 
concerning  thee  and  thy  great  salvation  !  In  all  I  say,  in 
all  I  do,  let  it  be  manifest  that  I  am  in  pursuit  of  Him 
whom  my  soul  loveth.  Let  every  action  tend  to  recommend 
thy  dear  name ;  and  whether  at  home  or  abroad,  in  my 
house  or  family,  when  lying  down  or  when  rising  up,  let  all 
creation  witness  for  me,  that  the  love,  the  service,  the  interest, 
the  glory,  of  my  God  in  Christ,  is  the  one  only  object  of 
my  soul's  desire ;  and  let  every  thing  speak  this  language — 
"  Whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  thee?  and  there  is  none  upon 
earth  I  desire  but  thee :  and  though  my  flesh  and  heart  fail- 
eth,  yet  thou  art  the  strength  of  my  heart,  and  my  portion  for 
ever." 

14. — ^Liid  he  must  needs  go  through  Samaria. — John  iv.  4. 

And  what  was  there,  blessed  Jesus,  that  constrained  thee 
to  this  necessity  ?  Was  it  because  there  was  a  poor  adulter- 
ous woman  there  that  needed  thy  grace,  and  the  hour  Avas 
come  for  her  conversion?  Sweet  thought!  let  me  cherish  it 
this  morning.  Was  there  not  the  same  needs  be  for  the  Fa- 
ther setting  thee  up,  from  everlasting,  for  the  Head  of  thy 
church  and  people  ?  Could  there  have  been  a  church  with- 
out thee?  And  when  thy  church  had  fallen  by  sin,  what 
archangel  could  have  recovered  her  but  thee?  Why  then 
there  was  a  needs  he^  that  thou  shouldest  take  the  nature  of 
thy  people  upon  thee,  and  come  to  seek  and  save  that  which 
was  lost !  And  as  it  is  said  of  thee,  concerning  this  poor  wo- 
man, that  he  must  needs  go  through  Samaria ;  so  must  it  be 
equally  said,  Jesus  must  needs  go  to  Jerusalem,  to  save  Jeru- 
salem sinners  by  his  blood.  Oh,  yes,  there  was  a  biessed  ne- 
cessity upon  thee,  thou  Lamb  of  God  !  that  thou  shouldest  do 
all  this.  Ought  not  Christ  to  have  suffered  these  things^ 
and  to  enter  into  his  glory  ?  My  soul,  indulge  this  precious 
thought  yet  further,  and  see  if  there  be  not  a  need.s  he  in  thy 
Jesus  for  numberless  other  occasions.  Is  there  not  a  blessed 
necessity  that  Jesus  should  give  out  of  his  fulness  to  his  people  ? 
Is  there  not  a  needs  be,  when  his  blessed  gospel  is  preached, 
that  he  should  be  present  to  give  virtue  and  efficacy  to  the 


248  MORNING   PORTION. 

word  delivered  ?  Might  not  every  poor  waiting  needy  sin- 
ner say,  There  is  a  blessed  necessity  Christ  should  be  here  ? 
Surely  he  is  constrained  by  his  promise,  that  where  two  or 
three  are  met  in  his  name,  he  is  in  the  midst  of  them  ;  and 
therefore  he  will  come,  he  will  bless  his  word,  he  will  give 
out  of  his  fulness ;  for  he  knows  my  need,  and  the  need'  of 
all  his  people  present.  Nay,  is  not  the  glory  of  our  Jesus  de- 
pending upon  the  receiving  of  his  poor,  and  making  them 
rich  by  his  bounty?  Go  one  step  further,  my  soul,  this 
morning,  as  it  concerns  thyself  Doth  not  Jesus  know  now 
thy  state,  thy  want,  thy  circumstances,  and  that  thou  art 
waiting  for  thy  morning  alms,  before  that  thou  canst  leave 
his  gate  7  Then  is  there  not  a  needs  be  that  he,  who  was 
constrained  to  pass  through  Samaria,  should  come  to  thee? 
Precious,  precious  Jesus  !  I  wait  thy  coming ;  I  long  to 
hear  thy  voice.  What  I  need  thou  knowest.  And  as  thy 
glory  and  my  salvation  are  both  blended,  do  for  me.  Lord,  as 
shall  best  conduce  to  this  one  end,  and  all  will  be  well.  Jesus 
will  be  glorified,  and  my  soul  made  happy.     Amen. 

15. — As  for  me,  I  am  poor  and  needy  ;  yet  the  Lordthinketh  upon  me. — 
Psalm  xl.  17. 

My  soul!  sit  down  and  reckon  up  thy  true  riches.  See 
what  are  thine  outward  circumstances,  and  take  an  inventory 
of  all  thine  inward  wealth.  Thou  art,  by  nature  and  by 
practice,  one  of  the  children  of  a  bankrupt  father,  even  Adam, 
who  lived  insolvent,  and  died  wretchedly  poor  in  himself, 
having  entailed  only  an  inheritance  of  sin,  misery,  and  death, 
with  the  loss  of  divine  favour,  upon  the  whole  race  of  his 
children.  By  nature  and  by  practice  thou  art  poor  in  the 
sight  of  God,  despised  by  angels  on  account  of  thy  loathsome 
disease  of  sin ;  thine  understanding  darkened,  thy  will  cor- 
rupt, passions  impetuous,  proud,  self-willed — all  in  opposition 
to  the  law  of  God:  exposed  to  all  present  evil,  everlasting 
evil,  a  slave  to  Satan,  a  willing  captive  in  his  drudgery ; 
hastening  daily  to  death,  to  the  secoiul  death,  and  with  an  in- 
sensibility which  is  enough  to  make  every  heart  mourn  that 
beholds  thee.  Such,  my  soul,  was  thy  state  by  nature  ;  and 
such,  and  far  worse,  would  have  been  thy  state  for  ever,  had 
not  Jesus  interposed,  and  looked  upon  thee,  and  loved  thee, 
when  thou  wast  cast  out  to  perish,  and  no  eye  to  pity  thee, 
nor  help  thee  from  thy  ruin.  My  soul !  canst  thou  now  say, 
though  poor  and  needy,  the  Lord  thinketh  upon  thee?    Oh, 


SEPTEMBER.  249 

blessed  Jesus,  thou  dost  indeed  think  upon  me  and  provide 
for  me ;  and  hast  given  me  to  see,  to  feel,  Yny  poverty,  need, 
and  misery,  and  to  live  wholly  upon  thee  and  thy  alms  from 
day  to  day.  Yes,  Jesus,  I  would  be  poor,  1  would  be  needy; 
I  would  feel  yet  more  and  more  my  nothingness,  worthless- 
ness,  poverty,  wretchedness,  that  Jesus  may  be  increasingly 
precious,  and  thy  salvation  increasingly  dear.  Oh,  for  grace, 
as  a  poor  needy  debtor,  daily  to  swell  my  debt  account,  that 
my  consciousness  of  need  may  make  thee  and  thy  fulness 
increasingly  blessed.  Let  it  be  my  daily  motto — "  As  for 
me,  I  am  poor  and  needy ;  but  the  Lord  thinketh  upon  me." 

16. — I  will  strengthen  them  hi  the  Lord,  and  they  shall  walk  up  and 
down  in  his  name,  saith  the  Lord. — Zech.  x.  12. 

My  soul,  mark  these  words,  how  precious  they  are ;  and 
mark  the  Speaker  and  Promiser,  and  consider  how  sure  they 
are.  Is  not  this  C4od  the  Father  speaking  of  the  church,  and 
most  graciously  assuring  the  church  that  he  will  strengthen 
the  church  in  Jesus,  the  church's  glorious  Head?  Is  not 
this  said  with  an  eye  to  Christ,  w^ho  is  represented  in  another 
part  of  this  blessed  prophecy  as  calling  upon  the  church  to 
attend  to  him,  who  is  come  to  build  the  temple  of  the  Lord, 
and  to  bear  all  the  glory ;  and  who  expressly  saith  that  the 
church  shall  know  that  He,  the  Lord  of  hosts,  is  sent  by  the 
Lord  of  hosts  unto  his  people?  Who  but  the  Lord  of  hosts 
could  build  the  temple  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  ;  or  who  but  him 
bear  all  the  glory?  Zech.  vi.  12.  So,  then,  my  soul,  observe 
that  Christ  is  the  strength,  as  well  as  the  righteousness,  of 
his  redeemed:  and  do  observe  further,  that  when  at  any 
time  thou  art  strengthened  in  Jesus,  it  is  the  Father's  gracious 
hand  and  office  which  is  manifested  in  this  merciful  act.  If 
thou  art  drawn  at  any  time  to  Jesus,  it  is  the  Father's  sweet 
constraining  love  that  thus  works  upon  the  soul,  John  vi.  44. 
If  thou  enjoyest  at  any  time  some  new  and  delightful  revela- 
tion of  Jesus,  which  lifts  thee  up  with  a  joy  unspeakable,  re- 
member, my  soul,  from  whom  the  blessing  comes  ;  and  learn 
to  ascribe  the  mercy,  the  distinguishing  mercy,  as  the  apostle 
did,  to  the  Father's  grace,  when  it  pleased  him  to  separate 
thee  from  thy  mother's  womb,  and  called  thee  by  his  grace  to 
reveal  his  Son  in  thee.  Gal.  i.  15,  16.  Yes,  Almighty  Fa- 
ther !  it  is  thy  special  mercy,  both  to  give  thy  Son,  and  with 
him  all  things,  to  the  highly-favoured  objects  of  thine  ever- 
lasting love.     It  was  he  who,  from  all  eternity,  did.  contrive, 


250  MORNING    PORTION. 

order,  will,  appoint,  and  prepare,  the  great  salvation  of  the 
gospel ;  and  choose  Christ  as  the  Head,  and  the  church  as 
the  body,  of  this  stupendous  work  of  redemption.  It  is  thou 
which  hast  carried  on  and  executed  all  the  great  designs ; 
and  it  is  thou  who  dost  strengthen  and  complete  the  whole  in 
the  final  salvation  of  all  the  members  of  it,  in  grace  here,  and 
glory  hereafter.  Blessed,  holy,  compassionate  Lord  God  1 
for  Jesus'  sake  fulfil  this  promise  daily  in  my  soul :  bear  me 
up,  carry  me  through,  and  strengthen  me  in  the  Lord  my 
God,  that  I  may  indeed  walk  up  and  down  in  his  name,  until 
thou  bring  me  in  to  see  his  face  in  thine  eternal  home,  and 
dwell  under  the  light  of  his  countenance  for  ever. 

17. — Brethren,  pray  for  us. — 1  Thes.  v.  25. 

My  soul,  mark  how  earnestly  the  apostle  sought  an  inte- 
rest in  the  prayers  of  the  faithful.  And  if  so  eminent  a  ser- 
vant in  the  church  of  Jesus  thus  entreated  to  be  remembered 
by  the  brethren  at  the  mercy-seat,  how  needful  must  it  be  that 
the  brethren  should  remember  one  another ;  not  only  minis- 
ters to  pray  for  the  people,  but  the  people  for  their  ministers. 
"  Brethren,  pray  for  us,"  should  be  the  constant  request  of 
every  lover  of  Jesus.  Methinks  I  would  ask  every  one  that 
I  knew  to  be  a  constant  attendant  at  the  heavenly  court,  to 
speak  for  me  to  the  King,  when  he  was  most  near,  and  in 
the  enjoyment  of  his  presence.  Tell  the  Lord,  I  would  say, 
that  his  poor  prisoner  needs  his  alms,  longs  for  his  grace,  and 
is  waiting  the  anxious  expectations  of  his  visits.  Beg  for  me, 
that  I  may  live  always  under  the  blessed  tokens  of  his  love  ; 
that  I  may  be  ever  living  near  the  Lord,  and  strong  in  the 
grace  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus.  And  do  tell  his  Sovereign 
Majesty  that  the  one  great  object  of  my  soul's  desire  is,  that 
I  may  have  increasing  views  of  the  infinite  dignity  of  his 
Person,  work,  merit,  offices,  relations,  characters  ;  and,  in 
short,  every  thing  that  relates  to  One  so  dear,  so  lovely,  so 
glorious,  and  so  suited  to  a  poor  sinner,  as  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  is  in  all  things.  And  do  add  for  me,  that  ray  humble 
suit  is,  that  after  he  hath  given  me  all  his  gifts  and  graces 
that  he  sees  needful  for  me  in  my  pilgrimage  state,  that  Jesus 
will  give  me  yet  more  than  all,  by  giving  me  himself,  and 
causing  my  heart  to  be  dissatisfied  with  all  but  himself;  for 
until  Jesus  himself  be  my  portion,  I  shall  have  not  what  I 
want.  It  is  not  enough  to  give  me  life  ;  but  He  himself  must 
be  my  life.     It  is  not  enough  to  give  me  rest,   unless  He 


SEPTEMBER.  251 

himself  is  my  rest,  and  I  rest  in  him.  Precious  Jesus !  I 
would  say,  in  thyself  is  all  I  need  :  all  to  pardon,  all  to  justify, 
all  to  sanctify,  all  to  glorify,  all  to  satisfy,  all  to  make  happy, 
here  and  for  ever.  Brethren,  let  this  be  your  prayer  for  me, 
and  it  shall  be  mine  for  you  ;  that  Jesus  be  the  all  in  all  of 
our  souls,  and  our  portion  for  ever. 

18. — The  King  is  held  in  the  galleries. — Song  vii.  5. 

And  who  but  Jesus  is  King  in  Zion  ?  As  one  with  the 
Father  over  all,  God  blessed  for  ever,  he  is  indeed  the  King 
eternal,  immortal,  invisible  !  And  as  Mediator  God-man,  he 
is  my  God  and  King,  both  by  his  conquest  of  my  heart,  and 
the  voluntary  surrender  of  my  soul.  Yes,  blessed  Jesus  !  I 
not  only  hail  thee  my  God  and  King,  but  I  would  have 
every  knee  bow  before  thee,  and  every  tongue  confess  that 
thou  art  Lord  and  King,  to  the  glory  of  God  the  Father. 
But,  my  soul,  what  are  those  galleries  where  thy  King  is 
held  ?  Are  they  the  scriptures  of  truth  where  Jesus  is  held 
and  retained,  adored  and  admired  1  Or  are  they  the  public 
ordinances  of  thine  house,  or  the  place  where  thine  honour 
dwelleth  ;  or  the  secret  chamber,  or  the  closet,  of  retirement 
and  meditation  ;  when  thou  comest  to  visit  thy  people,  and 
when  thou  knockest  at  the  door  of  their  hearts,  v/hen  thou 
comest  in  to  sup  with  them,  and  they  with  thee  ?  Well,  my 
gracious,  condescending  Lord  !  be  they  what  they  may,  or 
where  they  may,  methinks,  hke  the  patriarch,  when  thou 
comest  to  wrestle  vv^ith  my  poor,  heedless,  and  sleepy  heart,  I 
will  hold  thee  in  the  galleries,  and  say,  as  he  did,  "  1  will  not 
let  thee  go,  except  thou  bless  me."  I  would  say,  as  another 
famous  patriarch  did,  "  My  Lord,  if  I  have  found  favour  in 
thy  sight,  pass  not  away  from  thy  servant.  Rest  yourself 
under  the  tree  j  and  I  will  fetch  a  morsel  of  thine  own  bread, 
and  of  thine  own  giving,  and  comfort  ye  your  hearts  :  for 
therefore  are  ye  come  to  your  servant."  Gen.  xviii.  3,  5. 
I  would  entreat  thee,  Lord,  not  to  be  as  the  wayfaring  man, 
that  turneth  in  to  tarry  but  for  the  night :  but  I  would  hold 
thee  in  the  galleries  of  thine  own  graces,  in  thine  own 
strength,  imparted  to  my  poor  soul ;  and  I  would  beg  of  thee, 
and  entreat  thee,  to  tarry  until  the  dawn  of  day,  and  make 
thyself  fully  known  unto  me,  in  breaking  of  bread,  and  in 
prayer.  Yes,  my  adorable  King !  my  Lord  and  my  God  ! 
I  would  detain  thee  in  the  galleries,  I  would  hold  thee  fast,  I 
would  not  let  thee  go,  until  that  I  had  brought  thee  into  my 


252  MORNING   PORTION. 

mother's  house,  the  church — and  until  thou  hadst  brought  me 
home  to  thine  eternal  habitation  which  is  above  ;  and  there 
to  sit  down  at  thy  feet  to  go  out  no  more,  but  at  the  fountain- 
head  of  joy  to  drink  of  the  spiced  wine  of  the  juice  of  the 
pomegranate  in  everlasting  felicity. 

19. — I  have  set  before  thee  an  open  door,  and  no  man  can  shut  it. — 
Rev.  iii.  8. 

Blessed  Jesus  !  thou  hast  indeed  done  all  this,  and  more. 
Thou  art  thyself  the  Door  into  thy  fold  here  below,  and  to 
thy  courts  above  ;  for  thou  hast  said,  by  thee,  whosoever  en- 
tereth  in,  shall  go  in  and  out,  and  find  pasture  :  and  it  is  thou 
that  hast  opened  a  new  and  living  way  by  thy  blood.  Thou 
art  the  only  possible  way  of  access  to  the  Father.  And  be- 
cause thou  hast  opened  it,  no  man  can  shut  it ;  for  thou  ever 
livest  to  keep  the  way,  which  thou  hast  once  opened,  still 
open,  by  thy  all-prevailing  intercession.  Yes,  thou  heavenly 
Lord  !  the  gate  is  never  shut,  day  nor  night.  In  the  preach- 
ing of  thine  everlasting  gospel,  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  shall 
see  this  salvation  of  our  God.  And,  as  thou  hast  graciously 
said,  all  that  come  to  God  by  thee  shall  never  be  shut  out. 
The  word,  the  authority,  the  warrant,  of  Jehovah,  is  gone 
forth  to  this  purpose.  Thy  blood  and  righteousness  secure 
it.  The  Spirit  sets  his  seal  to  it.  Thou  wih  receive,  thou 
wilt  bless,  thou  wilt  cause  all  the  Father  hath  given  thee  to 
come  to  thee  ;  and  thou  wilt  keep  the  door  always  open  for 
all  comers.  Oh  !  heavenly  way  !  oh  !  precious,  endless  sal- 
vation !  My  soul !  see  to  it  that  thou  art  entered  in,  and 
there  abidest  securely.  Oh  !  ye,  my  fellow  sinners,  yet  with- 
out, rouse  up  from  your  carnal  security  and  sloth,  before  the 
Master  of  the  house  hath  arisen  and  shut  to  the  door  ;  and 
ye  then,  too  late,  cry  out — Lord,  Lord,  open  to  us.  Now  is 
the  accepted  time  ;  now  is  the  day  of  salvation  ! 

20. — Behold  the  man  whose  name  is  The  Branch. — Zech.  vi.  12. 

My  soul !  listen  to  the  call,  and  behold  this  wonderful 
Man,  whose  name  is  The  Branch  !  Mark  the  wonderful 
features  of  his  person.  This  is  one  of  the  prophetical  names 
of  Him,  in  the  faith  of  whom,  as  the  Redeemer  of  Israel, 
all  the  Old  Testament  saints  died.  The  Branch  of  the  Lord 
— the  Branch  of  Righteousness ;  or,  as  he  is  elsewhere 
called,  the  Nazarene.     But  observe  how  very  descriptive  of 


SEPTEMBER.  25^ 

his  nature  is  this  title.  He  grows  up  out  of  his  place.  And 
where  is  that  1 — In  the  eternal  counsel  of  Jehovah.  Who 
shall  declare  his  generation  ?  He  is  indeed  a  rod  out  of  the 
stem  of  .Tesse,  and  a  branch  out  of  his  roots.  But  all  this  as 
the  root  himself  of  David :  planted  in  the  eternal  purpose  of 
God's  own  sovereign  decree,  and  budding  forth  as  a  branch 
i:^  all  the  periods  of  his  incarnation,  death,  resurrection,  as- 
cension, glory.  And  what  a  Branch  of  never-failing  loveli- 
ness, and  everlasting  verdure  and  fruitfulness,  in  all  the  pro- 
clamations of  his  gospel,  converting  sinners,  and  comforting 
saints  !  And  what  an  eternal  perennial  Branch  to  all  his  re- 
deemed in  grace  and  glory.  Hail,  thou  glorious,  wonderful 
Man,  whose  name  is  The  Branch  !  Thou  art  indeed,  as  the 
prophet  described  thee,  beautiful  and  glorious  in  the  eyes  of 
all  thy  redeemed.  On  thee,  Lord,  would  I  hang  all  the  glory 
of  thy  Father's  house,  and  all  the  glory  of  my  sah-ation. 
May^  it  be  my  portion  to  sit  under  thy  shadow  with  great  de- 
light here,  until  thou  bring  me  home  to  sit  under  thee,  the 
Tree  of  Life,  in  the  Paradise  of  God,  in  the  fulness  of  en- 
joyment of  thee  for  ever. 

21. — Ye  shall  be  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost. — Acts  xi.  16. 

Blessed  promise  !  realize  it,  oh  thou  Holy  Spirit !  day  by 
day,  in  and  upon  my  soul.  Bring  me  under  the  continued 
baptisms  of  thy  sovereign  influence,  and  cause  me  to  feel  all 
the  sweet  anointings  of  the  Spirit  sent  down  upon  the  hearts 
and  minds  of  thy  redeemed,  as  the  fruits  and  effects  of  Jesus' 
exaltation,  and  the  promise  of  God  the  Father!  Yes! 
blessed  Spirit !  cause  me  to  know  thee  in  thy  person,  work, 
and  power ;  in  all  thy  offices,  characters,  and  relations.  I 
need  thee,  daj^  by  day,  as  my  Comforter.  I  need  thee,  as  the 
Spirit  of  truth,  to  guide  me  into  all  truth.  I  need  thee,  as  the 
Remembrancer  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  bring  to  my  forgetful 
heart  all  the  blessed  things  he  hath  revealed  to  me.  I  need 
thee,  as  the  Witness  of  my  Jesus,  to  testify  of  my  wants,  and 
his  fulness  to  supply.  I  need  thee,  as  the  Glorifier  of  my 
Lord,  to  take  of  his,  and  show  to  me.  I  need  thee,  as  my 
Advocate  and  Helper,  in  all  my  infirmities  in  prayer.  I 
need  thee,  as  the  Earnest  of  the  promised  inheritance,  that  I 
may  not  faint,  nor  want  faith  to  hold  on  and  hold  out  in  all 
dark  seasons.  I  need  thee,  Lord  ;  nay,  I  cannot  do  a  mo- 
ment without  thee,  nor  act  faith,  nor  believe  a  promise,  nor 
exercise   a   grace,   without   thy   constant,   ihine   unceasing, 

22 


254  MORNING   PORTION. 

agency  upon  my  poor  soul.  Come  then,  Lord,  I  beseech 
thee,  and  let  me  be  brought  under  thine  unceasing  baptisms. 
Shed  abroad  the  love  of  God  my  Father  in  my  heart,  and 
direct  me  into  the  patient  waiting  for  Jesus  Christ ! 

22. — The  justifier  of  liim  who  believeth  in  Jesus. — Romans  iii.  26. 

And  who  is  this,  indeed  who  can  it  be,  but  Jehovah  ?  It  is 
God  that  justifieth.  Who  is  he  that  condemneth  ?  But,  my 
soul,  mark  how  each  Person  of  the  Godhead  is  revealed  in 
scripture  under  this  character ;  as  if  to  convince  every  poor 
sinner  that  is  looking  for  redemption  in  Israel  only  in  Jesus, 
that  God  can  be  just,  and  yet  the  Justifier  of  him  that  believ- 
eth in  Jesus.  God  the  Father  justifieth  the  poor  believing 
sinner :  for  he  manifests  that  he  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive 
us  our  sins,  having  found  a  ransom  in  the  blood  of  his  Son 
for  sin,  whereby  he  is  faithful  to  all  his  covenant-promises  in 
pardoning  us,  having  received  at  our  Lord's  hand  double  for 
all  our  sins.  God  the  Son  justifieth  also  his  redeemed  :  for 
it  is  expressly  said  by  the  prophet,  "  In  the  Lord  shall  all  the 
seed  of  Israel  be  justified,  and  shall  glory."  And  that  God 
the  Holy  Ghost  justifieth,  is  as  evident  also:  because  it  was 
through  the  Eternal  Spirit  the  offering  of  the  body  of  Jesus 
Christ  was  offered,  by  which  Christ  is  said  to  have  been  jus- 
tified in  the  Spirit ;  and  believers  are  said  to  be  justified  by 
virtue  of  it  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  by  the  Spirit 
of  our  God.  Hence  all  the  Persons  of  the  Godhead  concur 
in  the  act  of  justifying  every  believer  in  Jesus  !  by  whom  we 
have  peace  with  God,  fellowship  with  the  Father,  and  with 
his  Son  Jesus  Christ.  Here  then  is  a  portion  to  live  upon 
through  life,  in  death,  and  to  all  eternity. 

23. — Is  there  no  balm  in  Gilead  ?  Is  there  no  physician  there  ?  Why- 
then  is  not  the  health  of  the  daughter  of  my  people  recovered  ? — Jere- 
miah viii.  22. 

Yes  !  there  is  both  balm  in  Gilead,  and  a  Physician  there  1 
For  the  blood  and  righteousness  of  Jesus  is  the  truest  balm  ; 
and  Jesus  himself  a  Sovereign  and  an  Almighty  Physician. 
But  if  that  blood  be  not  applied,  if  Jesus  be  not  known  nor 
consuked,  how  shall  health  be  obtained  ?  My  soul !  hast 
thou  known  thy  disease,  fek  thy  disorder  :  art  thou  convinced 
that  it  is  incurable  by  all  human  means — no  medicine,  no 
earthly  physician,  can  administer  relief?     Hast  thou  known 


SEPTEMBER.  255 

these  things?  And,  convinced  of  the  infinite  importance  of 
seeking  elsewhere,  art  thou  come  to  Jesus  ?  What  sayest 
thou,  my  soul,  to  the  inquiry  ?  Art  thou  acquainted  with  Je- 
sus ?  Hast  thou  made  known  thy  case  to  him  ?  And  hath 
he  told  thee  all  thai  is  in  thine  heart?  Hath  he  taken  thee 
under  his  care  ?  Is  he  administering  to  thee  the  balm  of 
Gilead  ?  Oh  !  my  soul,  see  to  it  that  nothing  satisfieth  thy 
mind,  until  that  thou  hast  heard  his  soul-reviving  voice,  say- 
ing, /  am  the  Lord  that  healeth  thee.  Exod.  xv,  26.  Seek  it 
for  thy  life.  Say  unto  the  Son  of  God — Speak  but  the  word^ 
Lord,  and  my  soul  shall  be  healed. 


24 — How  much  owest  thou  unto  my  Lord  % — Luke  xvi.  5. 

My  soul !  if  this  question,  which  the  unjust  steward  put 
to  his  lord's  debtors,  was  put  to  thee,  concerning  that  im- 
mense debt  which  hath  made  thee  insolvent  for  ever,  what 
wouldest  thou  answer  ?  Never  couldst  thou  conceive  the  ex- 
tent of  it,  much  less  think  of  paying  the  vast  amount.  A 
debtor  to  free  grace  for  thy  very  bei?ig ;  a  debtor  to  free  grace 
for  ihy  ivell-being ;  ten  thousand  talents,  which  the  man  in  the 
parable  owed  his  master,  would  not  be  sufficient  to  reckon  up 
what  thou  in  reality  owest  thy  Lord,  for  even  the  common 
gifts  of  nature  and  of  providence.  But  when  the  calculation 
goeth  on  in  grace,  what  archangel  shall  write  down  the  sum 
total  ?  To  the  broken  law  of  God,  a  bankrupt :  exposed  to 
the  justice  of  God  :  to  the  dreadful  penalty  of  everlasting 
death  ;  to  the  fears  and  alarms  of  a  guilty  conscience  ;  to  the 
worm  that  dieth  not ;  to  the  accusations  of  Satan,  unable  to 
answer  one  in  a  thousand.  My  soul,  how  much  owest  thou 
unto  thy  Lord  ?  Are  there  yet  any  other  outstanding  debts  ? 
Oh!  yes,  infinitely  and  beyond  all  these.  What  thinkest 
thou,  my  soul,  of  Jesus  ?  How  much  owest  thou  to  the  Fa- 
ther's love  in  giving,  to  the  Redeemer's  love  in  coming,  and 
to  the  Holy  Ghost  in  making  the  whole  effectual  to  thy  soul's 
joy ;  by  which  Jesus  hath  paid  all  thy  debts,  cancelled  all 
the  demands  of  God's  righteous  law,  silenced  Satan,  an- 
swered justice;  and  not  only  redeemed  thee  out  of  the  hands 
of  everlasting  bondage,  misery,  and  eternal  death,  but 
brought  thee  into  his  everlasting  kingdom  of  freedom,  joy, 
and  glory.  Say,  say,  my  soul,  how  much  owest  thou  unto 
thy  Lord?  Oh,  precious  debt!  ever  increasing,  and  yet 
everlastingly  making  happy  in  owing.  Lord  Jesus,  I  am 
thine,  and  thy  servant  for  ever :  thou  hast  loosed  my  bonds. 


256  MORNING   PORTION. 

25. — Thou  shalt  prepare  thee  a  way,  and  divide  the  coasts  of  thy  land 
(which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee  to  inherit)  into  three  parts,  that 
every  slayer  may  flee  thither. — Deut.  xix.  3. 

Sweet  thought  to  my  soul,  that  He  who  is  the  refuge  is  also 
the  way  to  every  poor  soul-slayer,  who  hath  murdered  his 
own  soul  by  sin.  And  who,  my  soul,  could  prepare  thee 
this  way,  but  God  thy  Father,  who  gave  both  Jesus  for  the 
way,  and  Jesus  for  the  refuge?  And  how  hath  God  the 
Spirit  pointed  to  the  way,  cast  up  and  prepared  it,  by  taking 
up  the  stumbling-blocks  out  of  the  way,  as  God  saith  of  his 
people?  Isaiah  xlvii.  14.  Is  it  not  God  the  Holy  Ghost  that 
sets  Jesus  up,  as  Moses  did  the  serpent ;  points  to  his  person, 
to  his  blood,  to  his  righteousness,  as  the  sanctuary  and  the 
city  of  refuge  to  every  poor  sinner  that  is  the  man-slayer  of 
his  own  soul  ?  And  if  what  the  Jews  have  said  be  true,  that 
magistrates  once  a  year  made  it  their  duty  to  have  the  roads 
examined,  lest  any  obstruction  should  arise  to  block  the  path 
of  the  poor  fugitive  ;  and  that  they  were  obliged  to  set  up  a 
post  at  every  turning  and  avenue,  with  the  word  Miklat — Re- 
fuge, upon  it,  to  direct  the  murderer  in  his  flight ;  well  may 
ministers  every  daj'-,  and  all  the  day,  stand  in  the  gates  of  the 
city,  and  in  the  high  places  of  concourse,  pointing  to  Jesus, 
and  crying  out,  "  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh 
away  the  sin  of  the  world  !"  Precious  Lord  Jesus,  lo,  I 
come  to  thee  :  thou  art  my  city  of  refuge — thou  art  the  Miklat 
of  my  soul !  Under  thee,  and  in  thee,  I  shall  be  safe. 
Cease,  ye  avengers  of  blood,  your  vain  pursuit:  Christ  hath 
taken  me  in.     Thou  shalt  answer  for  me,  oh  Lord,  my  God. 

26. — And  they  shall  hang  upon  him  all  the  glory  of  his  father's  house. — 
Isaiah  xxii.  24. 

And  who  is  this  but  Jesus,  the  true  Eliakim  and  Governor 
of  heaven  and  earth  ?  Jesus  sweetly  explained  it  himself, 
when  declaring  himself  possessing  the  key  of  David.  Rev. 
iii.  7.  And  hath  not  God  the  Father  literally  given  all 
things  into  his  hands  ?  Is  there  any  thing  which  Jehovah 
hath  kept  back  ?  Hath  it  not  pleased  the  Father,  that  in  him 
should  all  fulness  dwell  ?  Is  not  Jesus  the  Head  over  all 
things  to  the  church,  which  is  his  body  ?  Is  he  not  the  Al- 
mighty Lord  and  Treasurer  of  all  things — grace  here,  glory 
hereafter?  And  is  not  our  Jesus  the  Administrator  of  all 
things  in  the  world,  both  of  providence  and  grace?  My  soul, 
is  there  aught  remaining  to  hang  upon  Jesus  ?    Pause.    Hast 


SEPTEMBER.  267 

thou  hung  upon  him  all  the  glory  of  thy  salvation  ?  Pause 
again ;  my  soul.  Is  all  and  every  tittle  given  ?  Is  there 
aught  kept  back  ?  Is  there  any  Achan  in  the  camp  of  thy 
heart  ?  Forbid  it,  Lord.  See  to  it,  my  soul,  (for  it  is  thy 
life,)  that  thou  art  hanging  all  the  glory  of  the  Father's 
house  upon  Jesus.  Make  him  not  only  the  Alpha,  but  the 
Omega  also  of  thy  salvation.  And  as  the  Father  loveth  his 
Son,  and  hath  given  all  things  into  his  hands ;  so  do  thou 
come  to  him  for  all  things,  receive  from  him  all  things,  and 
ascribe  to  him  all  things,  in  the  receipt  of  grace  here,  and 
glory  hereafter — that  Christ  may  be  all,  and  in  all,  to  the 
glory  of  God  the  Father.     Amen. 


27. — He  hath  not  despised  nor  abhorred  the  affliction  of  the  afflicted  : 
neither  hath  he  hid  his  face  from  him  :  but  when  he  cried  unto  him, 
he  heard. — Psalm  xxii.  24. 

My  soul!  behold  Jesus  the  Lamb  of  God  in  this  sweet 
scripture.  Is  it  not  said  of  him,  that  in  the  days  of  his  flesh 
he  oifered  up  strong  crying  and  tears,  and  was  heard  in  that 
he  feared  ?  Though  he  were  a  son,  yet  learned  he  obedience 
by  the  things  which  he  suffered.  And  was  Jesus  the  holy 
One,  the  afflicted  One,  also  ?  Was  he  truly  so,  when  he  bore 
thy  sins?  And  was  this  the  time  to  which  this  scripture 
refers,  when  God  the  Father  had  respect  to  the  sufferings  of 
Jesus,  and  neither  despised  nor  abhorred  them?  Did  the 
Father  behold  him  then  through  the  whole  as  the  sinner's 
Surety,  and  graciously  accept  Jesus,  and  the  church  in  him? 
Oh.  then,  my  soul,  think  of  this  in  all  thy  trials  and  afflictions. 
Carry  all  thy  sins  and  soriows  to  the  throne.  Jesus  knows 
them  all,  sees  them  all — nay,  appoints  them  all.  He  is  always 
looking  upon  them,  and  presenting  thee  in  himself  to  the 
Father.  And  depend  upon  it,  as  thy  afflictions  are  not  only 
known  to  him,  but  appointed  by  him,  he  will  measure  out  no 
more  to  thee  than  he  will  sanctify.  And  so  far  from  abhor- 
ring or  despising  thy  affliction,  he  will  with  every  sorrow 
grant  support,  and  with  every  temptation  make  a  way  to 
escape.  Go  then,  my  soul ;  cast  all  thy  care  upon  him  ;  for 
he  careth  for  thee. 

28. — And  there  was  a  rainbow  round  about  the  throne. — Rev.  iv.  3. 

Mark  this,  my  soul,  and  connect  with  it  what  God  said 
after  the  destruction  of  the  old  world  by  water : — "  I  do  set 

22* 


258  MORNING   PORTION. 

my  bow  in  the  cloud,  and  it  shall  be  for  a  token  of  a  covenant 
between  me  and  the  earth.  And  I  will  look  upon  it,  that  I 
may  remember  the  everlasting  covenant  between  God  and 
every  living  creature  of  all  flesh."'  And  was  not  this  rain- 
bow round  the  throne  which  John  saw,  to  tell  the  church  of 
Jesus,  on  whom  the  Father  is  always  looking,  to  remember 
his  everlasting  covenant  of  grace  ?  And  what  doth  it  say 
but  this — there  shall  be  no  more  a  deluge,  nor  floods  of  ven- 
geance poured  out  upon  the  sinner  that  believes  in  Jesus  ? 
He  looks  to  Christ,  while  the  Father  beholds  Christ ;  he 
trusts  in  Jesus,  whom  the  Father  hath  trusted  with  his 
honour:  he  accepts  Jesus  as  the  whole  of  the  covenant,  in 
whom  the  Father  beholds  the  whole  of  the  covenant  fulfilled. 
Help  me,  Lord,  in  the  view  of  every  renewed  token  of  the 
rainbow  in  the  heavens,  to  connect  with  it  the  promise  of  Je- 
hovah to  his  poor  redeemed  upon  earth.  Yes,  blessed  Lord! 
there  is  a  rainbow  round  about  the  throne  ;  and  Christ  is  the 
Bow  which  Jehovah  hath  set  in  the  cloud.  On  him,  my  soul, 
gaze  and  feast  thy  ravished  eyes.  On  him  thy  God  and 
Father  looks,  and  is  well  pleased. 

29. — And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  vessels  were  full,  that  she  said  unto 
her  son.  Bring  me  another  vessel.  And  he  said  unto  her,  There  is 
not  a  vessel  more.     And  the  oil  stayed. — 2  Kings  iv.  6. 

Do  I  not  see  Jesus  and  his  fulness  here  ?  His  giving  out 
never  ceaseth,  until  we  have  no  more  empty  vessels  to  receive. 
And  surely  it  is  but  proper  the  oil  of  grace  should  stay  when 
there  are  no  more  souls  to  be  supplied.  Pity  indeed  would 
it  be,  that  any  thing  so  precious  should  be  spilt  on  the  ground. 
My  soul,  art  thou  not  poor  as  this  poor  woman?  Is  the 
creditor  come  to  take  thee  for  bondage  ?  Cry  mightily  to 
Jesus,  the  Lord  Cxod  of  the  prophets.  And  wilt  thou  borrow 
vessels  to  receive  his  bounty?  Borrow  not  a  few  ;  for  every 
vessel  must  fail  before  that  Jesus  fails.  Hast  thou  filled  all  ? 
See  then  that  thy  Almighty  Creditor  is  paid  from  Jesus' 
bounty ;  for  he  hath  paid  all  thy  debt:  and  see  that  thou  live 
henceforth  on  Jesus'  fulness.  Oh,  bountiful  Lord !  let  me 
learn  from  hence  sweet  lessons  of  faith.  There  is  no  nar- 
rowness in  thee,  but  all  fulness.  All  thou  hast,  moreover,  is 
for  sinners.  And,  precious  Lord  !  art  thou  not  glorified  in 
giving  out  to  sinners?  Is  it  not  thy  glory,  thy  delight,  so  to 
do  ?  Art  thou  not  pleased  when  sinners  come  to  thee  ?  Oh, 
for  grace  to  come  to  thee,  and  to  know  and  believe  that  it  is 


SEPTEMBER.  259 

thy  glory  and  thy  pleasure  to  receive  them.  Indeed,  indeed 
thou  keepest  open  house — an  open  hand,  an  open  heart. 
Lord,  give  me  daily,  hourly,  to  come  empty  to  thee  to  be 
filled,  with  grace  here,  and  glory  hereafter  ! 

30. — And  this  day  shall  be  unto  you  for  a  memorial. — Exodus  xii.  14. 

It  is  h]essed  to  end  the  month,  and  end  every  day,  as  we 
would  wish  and  desire  to  end  life,  blessing  and  praising  God 
in  Christ;  rising  from  the  table  of  divine  bounties,  and  thank- 
ing the  great  Master  of  the  feast.  Pause,-my  soul,  and  see 
whether,  in  the  past  month,  such  hath  been  thine  experience 
of  sovereign  grace  and  unmerited  mercies,  that  thou  canst 
now  set  up  thine  Ebenezer,  and  mark  this  day  for  a  memo- 
rial. What  visits  hath  Jesus  made  to  thee,  my  soul ;  and 
how  hath  thine  heart  been  drawn  out  after  him  ?  Hath  the 
Father,  as  well  as  the  Son,  come  and  made  his  abode  with 
thee  ?  Hath  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  glorious  Inhabitant  in  the 
souls  and  bodies  of  his  people,  manifested  his  continued 
presence  to  thee  ?  This  day  is  indeed  a  memorial,  if,  in 
summing  up  the  wonderful  account  of  divine  manifestations 
and  divine  love  in  providence  and  grace,  during  the  month 
now  nearly  closed,  and  the  years  already  passed,  thou  canst 
mark  down  the  blessed  enumeration.  And  will  not  my  Lord, 
while  the  day  is  not  passed,  and  yet  remains  to  be  added  to 
the  month,  will  he  not  make  it  memorable  by  some  renewed 
favour  ?  Oh !  for  some  new  visits  from  Father,  Son,  and 
Spirit, — this  morning,  this  day,  and  all  the  day  !  As  long  as 
I  live  I  would  have  my  soul  going  forth  in  exercises  of  faith 
and  love  upon  the  person  of  Emmanuel,  that  I  may  carefully 
mark  down  the  numberless  instances  of  it:  here,  I  would 
say,  Jesus  visited  me  ;  here  it  was  he  met  me ;  here  he  showed 
me  his  loves,  and  made  the  place  and  day  ever  memorable  by 
his  grace. 


260  MORNING  PORTION. 


OCTOBER. 


1.— Shiloh.— Gen.  xlix.  10. 


Precious  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus!  how  blessed  hath  it 
been  in  all  ages  to  thy  people  !  Oh  !  Lord,  make  it  as  oint- 
ment poured  forth  this  morning  to  my  soul.  Both  Jews  and 
Christians  alike  agree  in  it,  that  it  belongs  only  to  the  Mes- 
siah. And  how  then  is  it  that  they  do  not  see  Christ  in  it, 
even  our  Jesus,  who  suffered  under  Pontius  Pilate,  and  died, 
as  Caiaphas  predicted  the  expediency,  that  one  man  should  die 
for  the  people,  and  that  he  should  fulfil  the  dying  patriarch's 
prediction,  by  gathering  together  in  one  the  children  of  God 
which  were  scattered  abroad?  That  Jesus  answered  to 
Jacob's  prediction,  and  none  but  Jesus  ever  did,  is  evident 
from  their  own  testimony : — "  We  have  a  law,"  said  they  to 
Pilate,  "  and  by  that  law  he  ought  to  die."  Now,  then,  they 
themselves  hereby  confess  that,  as  Jacob  prophesied,  the  Law- 
giver was  not  departed  from  Israel  when  Christ  came.  And 
Avhen  they  added,  "  We  have  no  king  but  Caesar,"  certain  it 
was,  from  their  own  testimony,  the  sceptre  was  gone  out  of 
the  family  of  Judah,  when  the  heathen  emperor  was  king. 
Think  of  these  evidences,  my  soul,  and  feast  thyself  upon  the 
precious  name  of  thy  Shiloh.  Thy  Jesus,  thy  Shiloh,  thy 
Almighty  Deliverer,  is  come.  He  is  both  thy  Law-giver  and 
thy  Law-fulfiller ;  thy  God  and  thy  King,  who  sprang  out 
of  Judah.  Oh !  thou  glorious  Shiloh,  let  my  soul  be  gathered 
to  thee,  to  live  upon  thee,  and  to  thee,  and  do  thou.  Lord, 
arise  out  of  Zion  ;  and,  when  the  fulness  of  the  Gentiles  be 
completed,  let  both  Jew  and  Gentile  be  gathered  into  one 
fold,  of  which  be  thou  the  ever-living,  ever-loving,  ever- 
governing  Shiloh!  to  bless  them  in  thyself  for  ever.     Amen. 

2. — By  night  on  my  bed  I  sought  him  whom  my  soul  loveth. — Song  iii.  1. 

Pause,  my  soul,  over  this  account  which  the  church  gives 
of  herself,  and  see  whether  such  be  thine  exercises.  It  is 
night  indeed  in  the  soul  whenever  Christ  is  absent,  or  his 
presence  not  enjoyed.  And  though,  blessed  be  God !  the 
believer's  interest  in  Christ  varies  not,  yet  his  joy  in  the 
sense  of  safety  is  not  always  the  same.     Though  it  be  the 


OCTOBER.  261 

bed  of  affliction,  or  the  bed  of  sickness,  it  is  not  the  bed  of 
carnal  security,  when  the  soul  seeks  Jesus.  We  cannot  be 
said  to  be  in  a  cold,  lifeless,  and  indifferent  state,  while  Jesus 
is  sought  for.  It  may  be  night  indeed,  it  may  be  a  dark 
season  ;  yet,  nevertheless,  when  we  can  say,  With  ray  soul 
have  I  sought  thee  in  the  night,  yea,  with  my  spirit  within 
me  will  I  seek  thee  early — surely  this  earnestness  implies 
grace,  and  love,  and  desire,  in  lively  exercise.  However 
dull,  stupid,  and  unprofitable,  at  times,  ordinances  and  means 
of  grace  may  seem  ;  still  grace,  like  the  live  coal  under  the 
embers,  is  not  gone  out,  nor  extinguished.  Him  whom  my 
soul  loveth  frequently  breaks  out,  and  plainly  shows  that 
Jesus  still  lives  and  reigns  within.  Oh!  precious  Lord! 
thou  art  still  the  lovely  one,  the  chief  one,  and  the  fairest 
among  ten  thousand.  Be  thou  my  all  in  all,  the  hope  of 
glory. 

3. — Even  the  righteousness  of  God  which  is  by  faith  of  Jesus  Christ 
unto  all,  and  upon  all,  them  that  believe  ;  for  there  is  no  difference. — 
Romans  iii.  22. 

Here,  my  soul,  is  a  morning  portion  for  thee !  Surely 
here  is  enough  for  a  morning  portion,  for  poor  believing 
souls  to  live  upon  to  all  eternity.  Mark,  my  soul,  what  is 
here  said.  That  righteousness  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
which  he  wrought  out  for  his  church,  is  the  righteousness  of 
God :  for,  as  he  was  God  as  well  as  man,  his  righteousness 
was,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  the  righteousness  of  God. 
Now  the  sin  of  Adam,  and  the  sins  of  all  Adam's  children, 
put  the  whole  together,  form  but  the  sins  of  creatures  ;  con- 
sequently, the  righteousness  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is 
more  than  an  equivalent,  a  more  full  payment  than  their  debt 
can  demand,  because  it  is  the  righteousness  of  the  Creator. 
Sweet  thought!  for  God  is  more  honoured  by  Christ's  obe- 
dience, than  dishonoured  by  our  disobedience.  And  observe, 
my  soul,  how  this  righteousness  is  the  church  of  Christ's, 
namely,  by  faith ;  it  is  unto  all,  and  upon  all,  that  believe.  It 
is  received  by  faith.  The  scripture  language  of  this  unspeak- 
able mercy  is,  that  as  it  was  imputed  to  Abraham  for  righ- 
teousness, so  it  shall  be  imputed  unto  us  also,  if  we  believe 
on  Him  that  raised  up  our  Lord  Jesus  from  the  dead.  This 
is  another  delightful  portion  of  this  precious  verse.  Neither 
is  this  all — for,  as  if  to  encourage  the  poorest,  weakest,  and 
most  timid  believer,  this  righteousness  of  God,  which  is  by 


262  MORNING   PORTION. 

faith  of  Jesus  Christ  unto  all,  and  upon  all,  that  believe,  hath 
no  difference  in  its  blessed  effect.  All  partakers  of  it  are  alike 
partakers.  By  him,  (that  is,  by  Christ,)  the  scripture  saith, 
all  that  believe  are  justified  from  all  things.  Acts  xiii.  39.  So 
that,  though  the  faith  of  an  Abraham  or  of  a  Peter  might 
have  been  vastly  greater  than  the  timid  Ananias,  or  the  poor 
man  that  came  to  Christ  for  his  son,  saying,  "  Lord,  I  believe, 
help  thou  mine  unbelief;"  yet  the  justification  by  Christ,  to 
all,  is  one  and  the  same — it  is  to  all,  and  upon  all,  that  be- 
lieve ;  for  there  is  ho  difference.  Oh !  precious  righteous- 
ness of  the  God-man  Christ  Jesus ! 


4. — Behold,  I  am  with  thee,  and  will  keep  thee  in  all  places  whither  thou 
goest :  for  I  will  not  leave  thee,  until  that  I  have  done  that  which  I 
have  spoken  to  thee  of. — Genesis  xxviii.  15. 

Here  is  a  promise  to  Jacob,  and  not  to  Jacob  only,  per- 
sonally considered,  but  to  Jacob's  seed.  For  the. apostle  Paul 
was  commissioned,  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  to  tell  the  church  of 
Jesus,  that  we,  as  Isaac  was,  are  the  children  of  promise. 
Hence  this,  like  all  other  promises  in  Christ  Jesus,  is  yea  and 
amen.     Pause  then,  my  soul,  and  ask  thyself.  What  hath  the 


Lord  spoken  to  thee  of?  Hath  he  met  with  thee  in  Bethel 
as  he  found  Jacob '?  And  hath  he  there  spoken  unto  thee  ? 
How  wilt  thou  know  1  Very  plainly.  Jesus  hath  met  with 
thee,  hath  indeed  spoken  unto  thee;  if  so  be  thou  hast  seen 
thine  own  unworthiness  and  sinfulness  by  nature  and  by 
practice ;  and  if  thou  hast  seen  the  King  in  his  beauty,  even 
Jesus,  in  his  own  glory,  suitableness,  and  all-sufficiency,  as  a 
Saviour ;  and  inclined  thine  heart  by  his  grace  to  believe  in 
him,  to  depend  upon  him,  and  to  live  to  him  and  his  glory. 
What  sayest  thou,  my  soul,  to  these  things?  Is  thi^  promise, 
made  to  Jacob  and  his  seed,  thine  ?  If  so,  live  upon  Jesus,  and 
plead  the  fulfilment  of  it  daily,  hourly !  Say  to  him,  my  soul, 
Lord!  what  hast  thou  spoken  to  me  of,  but  mercy,  pardon, 
peace,  and  grace,  with  all  spiritual  blessings,  in  Christ  .Tesus? 
And  what  have  I  to  depend  upon,  or  what  indeed  can  I  need 
more,  but  thy  promise  and  the  great  Promiser  ?  Yes,  Lord 
Jesus !  I  do  depend,  I  do  believe.  Surely  thou  wilt  never 
leave  whom  thou  hast  once  loved  ;  and  therefore  thou  wilt 
not  leave  me,  until  thou  hast  done  that  which  thou  hast 
spoken  of  in  grace  here,  and  wilt  complete  in  glory  here- 
after. 


OCTOBER.  263 

5. — He   goeth   before  you   into   Galilee :    there    shall  ye   see   him  — 
Mark  xvi.  7. 

Mark  this,  my  soul.  In  all  thy  goings  forth,  look  out  for 
thy  gracious,  glorious  Forerunner ;  and  see  whether  the 
same  going  before  thee  of  thy  Lord  hath  not  been  from  ever- 
lasting. Was  it  not  Jesus  that  was  set  up  as  the  Head  of  his 
people  from  everlasting?  Did  he  not  then  go  before  them, 
when  he  went  forth  for  the  salvation  of  his  people  ?  In  the 
council  of  peace,  did  he  not  go  before  them ;  not  only  before 
we  knew  our  need,  but  before  we  had  a  being  1  In  all  his 
covenant-engagements,  as  the  Surety  of  his  people,  he  went 
before  them.  And  in  all  his  offices,  characters,  and  relations, 
he  was  preventing  us  with  the  blessings  of  his  goodness. 
And  in  the  personal  salvation  of  every  individual  of  his  re- 
deemed, was  not  Jesus  beforehand  in  quickening,  illu- 
minating, redeeming,  mercy  ?  If  ice  love  him,  is  it  not  be- 
cause he  first  loved  us  ?  And  what  is  it  now  1  Do  not  his 
mercies  go  before  our  prayers  ;  and  before  we  call,  doth  not 
Jesus  answer?  And  will  it  not  be  so  during  the  whole  day 
of  grace,  even  to  the  eternal  day  of  glory  ?  Precious  Jesus  ! 
surely  thou  art  going  before  me  into  Galilee.  Oh!  for  grace 
to  follow  the  Lamb  whithersoever  he  goeth.  And  do  thou, 
Lord,  walk  with  me,  and  talk  with  me,  as  thou  didst  to  the 
disciples  in  the  way ;  and  make  thyself  knowm  unto  me  in 
continual  manifestations,  and  in  breaking  of  bread,  and  in 
prayer. 

6. — Trust  in  him  at  all  times  ;  ye  people,  pour  out  your  heart  before  him. 
God  is  a  refuge  for  us.     Selali. — Psalm  Ixii.  8. 

My  soul !  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  marked  this  verse  with 
Selah  ;  therefore  pray  observe  it.  You  see  the  argument  for 
trust,  because  God — that  is  the  Eiohim — is  a  refuge.  Yes  ! 
God  the  Father  is  a  refuge,  in  his  covenant-engagements, 
word,  oath,  promises.  God  the  Son  is  a  refuge,  in  his  sureti- 
ship-engagements,  in  his  perfect  righteousness,  in  his  blood- 
cleansing,  sin-atoning  death  and  salvation  ;  and  in  all  his  se- 
curities of  grace  here,  and  glory  hereafter.  God  the  Holy 
Ghost  is  a  refuge,  in  all  his  blessed  offices,  characters,  and 
relations ;  by  which  he  undertakes  and  fulfils  all  the  pur- 
poses of  salvation,  in  the  glorifying  the  Father  and  the  Son, 
to  every  poor  believer's  joy  and  comfort.  And  wilt  thou  not, 
my  soul,  then  trust  to  this  glorious  Eiohim?  Wilt  thou  not 
pour  out  thyself  before  him,  and  trust  in  him  at  all  times,  at 


264  MORNING    PORTION. 

any  time,  at  every  time  ?  Nay,  wilt  thou  not  call  upon  all  the 
people  to  this  soul-rewarding  service,  and  tell  them  of  his 
grace  and  glory?  Come  hither,  I  would  say,  and  hearken, 
all  ye  that  fear  God ;  and  I  will  tell  you  what  he  hath  done 
for  my  soul.  Oh  !  let  us  magnify  his  name  together  ;  for  he 
is  a  Rock,  and  his  work  is  perfect. 

7. — Looking  for  that  blessed  hope,  and  the  glorious  appearing  of  the  great 
God,  and  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. — Titus  ii.  13. 

Pause,  my  soul,  over  these  sweet  and  solemn  w^ords !  Is 
Jesus  my  hope  ?  Surely  then  it  is  a  blessed  hope ;  for  all 
blessings  are  in  him.  Art  thou  looking  for  his  appearing  % 
Pause — for  the  thought  is  solemn.  How  shall  I  know? 
Suppose  this  moment  the  trumpet  of  the  archangel  was  to 
sound,  Arise  ye  dead,  and  come  to  judgment — my  soul!  art 
thou  ready?  Pause  once  more.  Do  I  long  for  Jesus'  ap- 
pearing now,  in  the  conversion  of  every  poor  sinner  ?  Do  f 
rejoice  to  hear  at  any  time,  that  a  soul  is  born  to  God  ?  If 
so,  is  not  this  looking  for  his  appearing?  Again — Do  I  long 
for  Jesus'  appearing  in  the  after-manifestations  of  his  grace 
to  the  souls  of  the  people  ?  for  this  is  to  rejoice  with  them 
that  do  rejoice,  and  to  prove  a  family  interest.  Again — Is 
Jesus  precious  to  me ;  and  do  I  long  for  the  renewal  of  his 
visits,  as  the  earth  longeth  for  the  rising  sun  ?  When  I  read 
his  word,  sing  his  praise,  call  upon  his  name,  mingle  in  the 
congregation,  go  to  his  table  ;  is  his  appearing  upon  all  these 
occasions  precious  now,  and  are  bis  love-tokens  sweeter  to 
my  soul  than  honey,  and  the  honeycomb?  If,  my  soul,  thou 
canst  bear  a  cheerful  testimony  to  these  things,  and  canst 
truly  call  them  blessed  noio ;  surely  the  hope  of  Jesus' 
second  coming  is  blessed  also,  and  thou  canst  well  subscribe 
to  the  apostle's  words  ;  for  his  appearing  being  now  gracm\is^ 
will  then  be  glorious^  in  the  appearing  of  the  great  God  and 
our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 

8. — But  him  they  saw  not. — Luke  xxiv.  24, 

Mark,  my  soul,  what  is  here  said.  Though  Jesus  sought 
out  his  disciples  in  the  morning  of  his  resurrection,  and  was 
found  of  them  that  sought  him  not ;  yet  many  sought  him 
not,  while  he  was  thus  gracious  to  many  that  looked  not  for 
him.  So  is  it  now.  Many,  like  those  women,  have  seen  the 
sepulchre  as  it  were  of  Jesus,  heard  his  word ;  nay,  many 


OCTOBER.  265 

saw  his  body  when  on  earth,  yet  saw  not  God  in  Christ  in 
him.  "  The  grace  of  God,"  saith  the  apostle,  "  hath  ap- 
peared unto  all  men ;"  that  is.  the  gospel  grace  is  preached 
in  common  before  believers  and  unbelievers  ;  but  believers 
only  see  Jesus  as  the  wisdom  and  the  power  of  God  for  sal- 
vation :  of  others  it  may  be  said,  as  here,  but  him  they  see 
not.  Oh !  precious  Jesus !  give  me  to  see  thee  as  the  Sent 
and  Sealed  of  the  Father,  that  my  soul  may  have  such  a  sav- 
ing sight  and  knowledge  of  thee  as  the  apostle  had,  which 
flesh  and  blood  cannot  reveal,  but  the  Father  only  which  is 
in  heaven.  Oh!  heavenly  Father,  give  me  the  Spirit  of 
wisdom  and  revelation  in  the  knowledge  of  thy  dear  Son  ; 
and  do  by  me  as  by  Paul — reveal  thy  Son  in  me. 

9. — And  all  mine  are  thine,  and  thine  are  mine  ;  and  I  am  glorified  in 
them. — John  xvii.  10. 

Precious  testimony  of  a  precious  truth.  See  to  it,  my 
soul,  that  thou  suffer  not  these  blessed  words  of  Jesus  to  drop 
from  thy  remembrance  ;  but  make  them  the  everlasting  me- 
ditation, not  only  of  this  morning,  but  every  morning,  and 
every  day,  and  all  the  day  ;  and  mark  thine  interest  in  them. 
All  Jesus'  treasures,  in  his  people  and  his  grace,  are  still  the 
Father's  ;  for  as  Jesus  and  the  Father  are  one  in  essence  and 
in  w^ill.  so  also  in  property.  And  the  Father's  giving  the 
church  to  Jesus,  with  all  blessings  in  him,  doth  not  alienate 
the  Father's  right.  So  in  like  manner,  all  that  Jesus  hath 
are  the  Father's,  and  Christ  is  glorified  in  them.  It  is  a 
blessed  order  in  the  work  and  purpose  of  redemption,  to 
trace  the  Father  as  the  original  Giver,  Fountain,  and  Source 
of  all.  And  then  to  trace  them  as  Jesus',  by  virtue  of  his  be- 
ing the  glorious  Mediator.  And  hence  the  Holy  Ghost  is 
said  to  take  them  as  Jesus',  and  show  unto  the  people.  The 
Holy  Ghost  doth  not  take  them  immediately  from  the  Father, 
but  mediately  from  Christ ;  because,  without  the  person 
and  work  of  Jesus,  they  never  could  have  been  communi- 
cated to  us.  So  that  Christ  is  glorified  by  the  Holy  Spirit  in 
the  hearts  of  his  people,  when  that  blessed  Spirit  takes  them, 
and  gives  them,  and  shows  them,  not  immediately  as  the 
Father's,  but  as  the  fruit  and  consequence  of  Christ's  merits 
and  death  :  and  thus  showing  the  common  interest  both  of 
Father  and  Son,  in  all  the  blessed  things  of  salvation.  My 
soul !  dost  thou  understand  these  precious  things  ?  Oh  then 
.      23 


266  MORNING   PORTiON. 

live  in  the  enjoyment  of  them,  and  see  that  Jesus  is  glorified 
and  the  Father  glorified,  in  his  dear  and  ever  blessed  Son. 

10. — That  ye  may  know  how  that  the  Lord  doth  put  a  difference  be- 
tween the  Egyptians  and  Israel. — Exod.  xi.  7. 

Who  shall  mark  down  all  the  properties  of  distinguishing 
grace  !  What  a  vast  difference  doth  grace  make,  in  this  life, 
between  him  that  serveth  God  and  him  thatserveth  him  not ! 
And  what  an  everlasting  difference  will  be  made  in  the  life 
which  is  to  come  !  My  soul !  make  this  thought  the  subject 
of  thine  unceasing  meditation.  Thou  canst  not  walk  the 
street,  nor  go  to  public  worship,  nor  watch  the  Lord's  deal- 
ings in  all  the  vast  and  numberless  dispensations  going  on  in 
life,  in  the  wide  world  of  providence  and  grace,  but  what 
every  thing  speaks,  in  the  language  of  the  Morning  Portion, 
of  the  difference  there  is  still  put  between  the  Egyptians  and 
Israel.  Every  thing  proclaims  it,  every  event  confirms  it. 
And  do  not  overlook  the  great  point  of  all.  It  is  the  Lord 
that  doth  all  this.  Who  maketh  thee  to  differ  from  another  ? 
Oh !  for  grace  to  be  always  on  the  watch-tower  to  mark  this, 
and  for  grace  to  acknowledge  it.  Precious  Jesus !  thou  art 
the  Source,  the  Fountain,  the  Author,  the  Finisher,  of  all. 
Oh  !  the  depth  of  the  riches,  both  of  the  wisdom  and  know- 
ledge of  God  !  How  unsearchable  are  thy  judgments,  and 
thy  ways  past  finding  out ! 


11. — He  -wakeneth  morning  by  morning  ;  he  wakeneth  mine  ear  to  hear 
as  the  learned.-^ Isaiah  1.  4. 

Who  is  this  but  Jesus  in  his  human  nature,  of  whom  the 
Prophet  speaks  ?  Eminently  to  him  doth  it  refer,  to  whom 
was  given  the  tongue  of  the  learned,  that  he  might  know  hew 
to  speak  a  word  to  him  that  is  weary.  Precious  Lord  !  it  is  in- 
deed thy  province,  and  thine  only,  to  speak  a  v/ord  to  weary 
souls,  and  to  be  the  rest  wherewith  thou  causest  the  weary  to 
rest,  and  to  be  their  refreshing.  Not  only  to  give  them  rest, 
but  thyself  to  be  their  rest.  Not  only  to  give  them  salvation, 
but  thyself  to  be  their  salvation. — But,  blessed  Lord !  may 
not  a  poor  soul  like  myself  say  of  thee  also,  that  thou 
wakenest  me  morning  by  morning  ?  for  who  is  it  but  Jesus, 
that  by  the  sweet  influences  of  the  Spirit  wakens  his  people 
morning  by  morning,  and  openeth  the  ear  to  hear,  and  the 
eye  to  see,  and  the  heart  to  feel,  the  blessed  tokens  of  his 


OCTOBER.  267 

coming  ?  Have  I  not  found  thee,  Lord,  wakening  my  soul 
sometimes  before  the  dawn  of  day,  and  calling  my  soul  up  in 
gracious  meditation,  to  attend  to  the  soft  whispers  of  thy  love  ? 
Have  I  not  heard  thee  saying,  as  to  the  church  of  old,  Rise 
up,  my  love,  my  fair  one,  and  come  away?  And  hast  thou 
not  made  my  soul,  or  ever  I  was  aware,  like  the  chariots  of 
Amminadib?  Do  thou,  Lord,  waken  me,  I  beseech  thee, 
morning  by  morning,  and  while  thou  art  thus  speaking  to 
my  soul,  let  mine  answer  be.  My  voice  shalt  thou  hear  be- 
times, oh  Lord,  in  the  morning  ;  early  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  thee,  and  will  look  up.  My  soul  shall  wait  for  thee, 
more  than  they  that  watch  for  the  morning,  yea,  I  say,  more 
than  they  that  watch  for  the  morning. 


12. — And  this  man  shall  be  the  peace,  when  the  Assyrian  shall  come 
into  our  land. — Mic.  v.  5. 

What  man  is  this  but  the  Glory-man,  the  Mediator  between 
God  and  men,  the  man  Christ  Jesus  ?  And  what  peace, 
when  all  enemies  oppose  the  soul,  but  peace  in  the  blood  of 
his  cross  ?  Yes,  my  soul,  Jesus  is  the  wonderful  man,  who 
alone  could  make  thy  peace.  For  as  it  was  by  one  man's 
disobedience  many  were  made  sinners,  so  by  the  obedience 
of  one  shall  many  be  made  righteous.  And  none  but  one  in 
our  own  nature  could  redeem  that  nature,  for  the  right  of  re- 
demption belonged  only  to  him.  Leviticus  xxv.  25.  And 
none  but  one  in  our  nature  could  atone,  could  bleed,  could 
die,  and  rise  again,  that  he  might  be  the  Judge,  both  of  the 
dead  and  living.  Oh !  precious  Jesus,  how  suited  wert  thou 
by  the  union  of  thy  two  natures,  as  God  and  man,  and  God- 
man,  both  in  one,  to  be  our  glorious  Mediator,  and  to  be  the 
Lord  our  righteousness.  Yes,  precious  Lord.  God  hath 
said  it,  and  my  soul  evermore  rejoiceth  in  the  blessed  truth : 
this  man  Christ  Jesus  shall  be  my  peace,  my  glory,  my  sal- 
vation, my  refuge,  when  the  Assyrian  shall  come  into  our 
land. 

13. — ^Jesus  made  a  surety. — Heb.  vii.  22. 

My  soul,  look  at  Jesus  as  a  Surety,  and  as  7?iade  thy  Surety 
this  morning. — Blessed  view,  if  so  be  the  Holy  Ghost  will 
enlighten  thine  eyes  to  see  him  under  all  these  characters. 
First,  a  Surety.  We  are  all  ruined  by  a  debt,  incapable  of 
being  ever  paid  by  any,  or  by  all,  the  fallen  sons  of  Adam. 


268  MORNING    PORTION. 

Jesus  steps  in,  becomes  a  Surety  for  our  debt,  and  pays  the 
Vv'hole  by  his  obedience  and  death.  But  we  owe  a  duty  also, 
as  well  as  a  debt.  Jesus  becomes  here  again  the  Surety.  He 
will  put  his  Spirit  in  us,  and  we  shall  live.  He  becomes  also 
a  Surety  for  promises,  that  all  God  hath  promised  for  his 
sake,  shall  be  fulfilled  in  him,  and  in  us  for  him.  But  he  i-s 
not  only  a  Surety,  but  made  a  Surety ;  for  the  Father's  name, 
and  the  Father's  authority,  is  in  him.  It  is  God  the  Father 
which  saith,  I  have  given  him  for  a  covenant.  Precious 
thought  for  faith  to  act  upon.  And,  my  soul,  is  not  Jesus  thy 
Surety?  Yes,  if  while  the  Father  thus  freely  gives,  thou  as 
fully  receivest,  and  art  looking  to  no  other.  Say  then,  my 
soul,  is  it  not  so  with  thee  ?  Is  not  Jesus  thy  all  in  all,  thy 
Surety,  thy  Sponsor,  thy  Redeemer  ?  And  dost  thou  not  say, 
Thou  shalt  answer  for  me,  oh  Lord  my  God  ?  Oh  !  compre- 
hensive word,  Jesus  made  a  Surety  ! 

14. — Behold,  I  give  you  power  to  tread  on  serpents  and  scorpions,  and 
over  all  the  power  of  the  enemy. — Luke  x.  19. 

Astonishing  the  mercy,  and  wonderful  the  privilege,  mani- 
fested to  the  followers  of  the  Lamb  !  Poor,  and  weak,  and  help- 
less, as  they  are  in  themselves,  yet  how  strong  in  the  grace 
that  is  in  Christ  Jesus.  My  soul,  never  lose  sight  of  these 
blessed  things.  In  Jesus  thou  art  not  only  a  conqueror,  but 
more  than  conqueror.  As  the  armies  in  heaven  overcame 
by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  so  here  below,  it  is  all  in  him,  and 
by  him,  the  victory  is  obtained.  God  will  bruise  Satan  under 
our  feet  shortly ;  but  it  is  God  that  must  bruise  him,  and  it  is 
he  that  must  put  him  under  our  feet.  Oh  for  grace  to  see 
where  our  strength  is,  and  as  cheerfully  to  ascribe  all  to  him; 
that  He  in  whom,  we  are  made  to  tread  on  serpents  and  scor- 
pions may  have  the  glory  due  to  his  name,  and  He  who 
gives  the  strength  may  have  the  praise. 

15. — Whose  names  are  in  the  book  of  life. — Philippians  iv.  3. 

How  is  this  known?  It  must  be  a  blessed  privilege  this, 
and  highly  desirable  to  attain,  if  there  be  a  true  scriptural  tes- 
timony to  it.  That  there  is  a  book  of  life,  in  which  the 
record  is  made  of  the  people  of  the  Lamb,  is  without  all  dis- 
pute, from  many  parts  of  scripture.  The  church  of  the 
first-born  are  said  to  have  their  names  written  in  heaven  \ 
such  as  are  chosen  of  God  in  Christ  before  the  world  besran. 


OCTOBER.  269 

But  these  are  secret  things,  which  belong  to  the  Lord  our 
God.  Yet  it  is  said,  the  secret  of  the  Lord  is  with  them  that 
fear  him,  and  he  will  show  them  his  covenant.  Hence, 
therefore,  is  not  the  Bible  a  copy  of  this  book  of  life  ?  Are 
there  not  scriptural  marks  and  characters  given,  by  which 
the  correspondence  is  proved  ?  In  both,  they  are  distin- 
guished by  one  and  the  same  name  and  character.  They 
are  called  the  people^  the  seed,  the  offspring,  of  Jesus.  They 
are  his  by  gift,  by  purchase,  by  conquest,  by  a  voluntary  sur- 
render. They  are  known  by  the  character  as  well  as  by 
name.  They  seek  salvation  only  in  Jesus.  God  is  their 
Father,  Jesus  their  Redeemer,  the  Holy  Ghost  their  Sancti- 
fier.  My  soul,  see  thy  name  in  bible  characters  answering 
to  this  persuasion,  and  be  assured,  that  the  original  writing 
of  the  book  of  life  in  heaven,  and  the  book  of  God  for  life 
upon  earth,  which  is  his  written  word,  is  in  exact  correspond- 
ence. Blessed  Jesus,  give  me  in  this  way  to  know  whose  I 
am,  and  to  whom  I  belong,  and  then  assured  shall  I  be,  that 
my  name  is  in  the  book  of  life. 

16. — ^We  will  make  thee  borders  of  gold,  with  studs  of  silver. — Song  i.  1 1. 

My  soul,  ponder  over  these  words.  What  borders  of  gold 
shall  be  made  for  the  believer,  but  the  robe  of  Jesus'  righ- 
teousness ?  And  what  silver  but  the  garment  of  his  salva- 
tion 1  If  thou  art  clothed  with  this,  my  soul,  thou  wilt  shine 
indeed,  with  more  lustre  than  all  the  embroidery  of  gold  and 
precious  stones,  which  perish  with  using.  But  mark,  my 
soul,  who  it  is  that  makes  them,  and  who  puts  them  on  thee 
— Surely  none  but  God.  And  observe  how  all  the  persons 
of  the  Godhead  are  engaged  in  this  work.  We  will  make 
thee,  is  the  language.  Yes,  Jehovah  Elohim,  who  said,  Let 
us  make  man,  at  the  original  creation  :  the  same  now  saith, 
at  the  new  creation.  We  will  make  thee  borders  of  gold,  with 
studs  of  silver.  And  is  not  the  hand  of  God  the  Father  in 
this  blessed,  gracious  act,  in  the  gift  of  his  Son  to  the  poor 
sinner?  Is  it  not  Jesus  who. hath  wrought  out  a  robe  of  sal- 
vation for  the  poor  sinner?  And  is  it  not  the  Holy  Ghost, 
who  puts  on  the  blessed  adorning  upon  the  poor  sinner,  in 
taking  of  the  things  of  Jesus,  and  showing  unto  him?  Oh, 
precious  testimony  of  a  precious  God  in  Christ.  Be  it  unto 
me,  Lord,  according  to  thy  word.  Let  me  be  thus  clothed 
and  adorned,  and  I  shall  be  happy  now,  and  happy  to  all 
eternity. 

23* 


270  MORNING   PORTION. 

17. — And  on  the  cities  of  Judah  shall  the  fiocks  pass  again  under  the 
hands  of  him  that  telleth  them,  saith  the  Lord — Jeremiah  xxxiii.  13. 

See,  my  soul,  what  a  blessed  scripture  is  here.  Meditate 
upon  it  this  morning.  Whose  hands  can  these  be  but  Jesus'  ? 
For  whose  are  the  flocks  but  his  ?  Is  he  not  in  all  the  scrip- 
ture said  to  be  a  Shepherd,  and  the  good  Shepherd,  that 
giveth  his  life  for  the  sheep  1  And  would  he  give  his  Hfe 
for  sheep  he  knew  not  ?  Surely,  that  is  impossible.  More- 
over, did  not  the  Father  give  them  to  him  ?  Did  he  not  re- 
ceive them  from  the  Father  ?  And  did  he  not  know  them, 
and  count  them  over,  when  he  received  them?  I  know  my 
sheep,  saith  Jesus,  and  am  known  of  mine.  And  observe, 
the  flocks  are  said  to  pass  again  under  his  hands.  A  plain 
proof  that  they  have  all  passed  before.  Nay,  is  it  not  said 
that  he  telleth  them  ?  Yes  !  He  calleth  them  all  by  name, 
and  leadeth  them  forth,  and  goeth  before  them.  And  he  saith 
himself.  Of  all  thou  hast  given  me,  I  have  lost  none.  Precious 
scripture  of  a  most  precious  Saviour.  How  then  can  any  be 
lost  ?  If  Jesus  knew  them  when  he  received  them,  counted 
them  over,  set  his  seal  upon  them,  and  they  must  all  pass 
again  under  his  almighty  hand,  how  shall  one,  even  one,  be 
found  wanting,  when  he  maketh  up  his  jewels'?  Poor 
weather-beaten  shorn  lamb  of  Jesus'  fold,  whosoever  thou  art, 
think  of  these  things,  when  wandering,  or  cold,  or  in  dark- 
ness, or  on  the  mountains.  Jesus  will  seek  thee  out  in  the 
dark  and  cloudy  day.  He  will  bring  thee  home,  and  thou 
shalt  lie  in  his  bosom,  and  by  and  by  dwell  with  him  for 
ever :  for  he  is,  he  must,  he  will  still  be  Jesus. 


18. — And  God  heard  their  groaning,  and  God  remembered  his  covenant. 
Exod.  ii.  24. 

This  is  a  precious  scripture.  My  soul,  put  a  note  upon  it. 
No  sigh,  no  groan,  no  tear  of  God's  people  can  pass  unob- 
served. He  putteth  the  tears  of  his  people  in  his  bottle. 
Surely  then  he  can  never  overlook  what  gives  vent  to  those 
tears,  the  sorrows  of  the  soul.  Our  spiritual  afflictions  Jesus 
knows,  and  numbers  all.  How  sweet  the  thought !  The 
Spirit  maketh  intercession  for  the  saints,  with  the  groanings 
which  they  cannot  utter.  And  do,  my  soul,  observe  the 
cause  of  deliverance.  Not  our  sighs,  nor  our  groanings,  nor 
our  brokenness  of  heart;  not  these,  for  what  benefit  can 
these  render  to  an  Holy  God  %     But  God  hath  respect  in  all 


OCTOBER.  271 

to  his  own  everlasting  covenant.  Yes,  Jesus  is  the  all  in  all 
of  the  covenant.  God  the  Father  hath  respect  to  him.  For 
his  sake,  for  his  righteousness,  for  his  atoning  blood,  the 
groanings  of  his  people  find  audience  at  the  mercy-seat,  and 
redress.  And  God  hath  respect  to  his  own  word,  his  oath, 
his  promises  to  his  dear  Son.  Oh  !  blessed  assurance  !  Oh! 
precious  security  !  How  shall  anj'-  poor  groaning  child  of 
God  go  unheard,  unpardoned,  unrelieved  ;  who  hath  double 
security,  in  the  glory  of  God  the  Father's  sovereign  grace, 
and  covenant  word  and  oath,  to  depend  upon  :  and  the  ever- 
lasting covenant  righteousness  and  atoning  blood  of  God  the 
Son  to  be  found  in  1  Here,  my  soul,  rest,  for  ever  rest,  thy 
sure  claim  to  grace  and  glory. 

19. — There  shall  be  no  more  thence  an  infant  of  days,  nor  an  old  man 
that  hath  not  filled  his  days  ;  for  the  child  shall  die  an  hundred 
years  old,  but  the  sinner  being  an  hundred  years  old,  shall  be  ac- 
cursed.— Isaiah  Ixv.  20. 

My  soul !  contemplate,  this  morning,  the  auspicious  and 
blessed  effects  brought  into  the  circumstances  of  mankind  by 
the  gospel.  Not  only  shall  there  be  new  heavens,  and  a  new 
earth,  but  new  hearts,  new  minds,  new  dispositions  to  enjoy 
them.  If  any  man  be  in  Christ,  he  is  a  new  creature.  Old 
things  are  passed  away,  and  all  things  are  become  new. 
And  among  the  many  blessed  changes  that  shall  take  place 
in  consequence  of  Jesus'  salvation,  all  untimely  deaths  are 
done  away.  Indeed,  there  can  be  no  such  thing  as  an  un- 
timely death  to  those  who  are  in  Christ :  for  a  voice  from 
heaven  pronounced  all  blessed  that  die  in  the  Lord.  A  child 
new  born,  if  born  also  in  Christ,  an  infant  of  a  day,  if  a  gra- 
cious day,  is  as  ripe  for  glory  as  if  an  hundred  years  had 
passed  over  him.  Indeed,  he  is  an  hundred  years  old  in  Je- 
sus. Sweet  thought !  what  a  blessedness,  dearest  Jesus,  hath 
thy  great  salvation  introduced  into  the  circumstances  of  thy 
people.  But  what  an  awful  thought!  the  life  of  an  unawa- 
kened,  unregenerated  sinner,  though  protracted  to  an  hundred 
years,  is  lengthened  only  to  misery.  As  he  came  into  the 
world,  so  he  goes  through  it,  and  so  he  goes  out  of  it,  an  un- 
renewed sinner  !  Oh,  distinguishing  grace !  oh,  great  salva- 
tion ! 

20. — Christ  is  all,  and  in  all. — Coloss.  iii.  11. 

Hail,  thou  great,  thou  glorious,  thou  universal  Lord.  To 
thee,  blessed  Jesus,  every  knee  shall  bow.     Thou  art  all  in 


272  MORNING    PORTION. 

all,  in  creation,  redemption,  providence,  grace,  glory.  Thou 
art  all  in  all  in  thy  church,  and  in  the  hearts  of  thy  people : 
in  all  their  joys,  all  their  happiness,  all  their  exercises,  all 
their  privileges.  Thou  art  the  all  in  all  in  thy  word,  ordi- 
nances, means  of  grace,  the  sum  and  substance  of  the  whole 
Bible.  Speak  we  of  promises  ?  Thou  art  the  first  promise 
in  the  sacred  word,  and  the  whole  of  every  promise  that  fol- 
lows ;  for  all  in  thee  are  yea  and  amen.  Speak  we  of  the 
law  ?  Thou  art  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteousness  to  every 
one  that  believeth.  Speak  we  of  sacrifices  ?  By  thy  one 
sacrifice  thou  hast  for  ever  perfected  them  that  are  sanctified. 
Speak  we  of  the  prophecies  ?  To  thee  give  all  the  prophets 
witness,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  thee  shall  receive  remis- 
sion of  sins.  Yes,  blessed,  blessed  Jesus,  thou  art  the  all  in 
all.  Be  thou  to  me.  Lord,  the  all  in  all  I  need  in  time,  and 
then  surely  thou  wilt  be  my  all  in  all  to  all  eternity. 


21. — All  are  your's  ;  and  ye  are  Christ's  ;  and  Christ  is  Grod's. — 1  Cor. 
iii.  22,  23. 

Oh  !  what  a  rich  inventory  is  here.  All  things,  all  bles- 
sings, all  gifts,  all  grace,  all  mercy ;  all,  all,  the  Christian's. 
And  observe,  my  soul,  on  what  it  is  suspended — if  ye  are 
Christ's.  And  whose  art  thou,  my  soul,  but  his  %  Hath  not 
the  Father  given  thee  to  him  ?  And  hath  not  the  Son  of 
God  bought  thee  with  a  price  ?  Hast  thou  not  made  a  volun- 
tary surrender  of  thyself  to  Jesus,  and  given  thyself  to  him 
in  an  everlasting  covenant  which  cannot  be  broken  ?  Oh  ! 
yes,  yes  ;  all  this  is  certain.  Lord,  grant  me  grace,  and  faith 
in  lively  exercise,  that  I  may  now  take  to  myself  all  the  bles- 
sedness of  it  by  anticipation,  until  I  come  to  realize  the  whole 
in  absolute  enjoyment,  in  glory.  Christ  is  mine,  and  with 
him,  heaven  is  mine ;  God  the  Father  is  mine ;  the  Holy 
Ghost  is  mine  ;  all  covenant  blessings  are  mine  ;  ordinances, 
means  of  grace,  the  holy  book  of  God,  all  are  mine  here,  and 
will  be  my  portion  for  evermore.     Hallelujah. 


22. — The  Lord  will  command  his  loving  kindness  in  the  day  time,  and 
in  the  night  his  song  shall  be  with  me,  and  my  prayer  unto  the  God 
of  my  life. — Psalm  xlii.  8. 

Both  night  and  day  open  sources  of  comfort,  when  Jesus 
is  present,  and  when  Jesus  sanctifies.  How,  indeed,  my  soul, 
canst  thou  be  otherwise  than  comfortable,  while  Jesus  is  with 


OCTOBER.  273 

thee,  and  manifesting  himself  unto  thee  ?  And  do  observe, 
my  soul,  the  sweet  expression  in  this  verse.  Thy  Lord,  thy 
Jesus,  will  both  create  blessings  and  command  them.  His 
loving  kindness,  which  is  better  than  life  itself,  will  make  day- 
light in  the  soul,  when  otherwise  it  is  night.  And  his  love 
will  shine,  as  the  stars  in  the  darkest  night  sparkle  with  more 
lustre,  with  increasing  brightness,  when  dark  providences 
are  around.  Nay,  Jesus  will  give  songs  in  the  night,  when 
all  things  else  are  out  of  tune.  Do  thou.  Lord,  do  thou,  my 
Lord,  command  then  thy  loving  kindness  both  by  day  and 
night ;  and  my  prayer  and  praise  shall  both  go  forth  to  thee, 
the  God  of  my  life,  and  it  shall  put  more  gladness  in  my 
heart,  than  when  corn,  and  wine,  and  oil,  increase. 

23. — Now  therefore  go,  and  I  will  be  with  thy  mouth,  and  teach  thee 
what  thou  shalt  say. — Exod.  iv.  12. 

My  soul !  pause  over  this  sweet  promise  which  the  Lord 
gave  to  Moses  ;  for  surely  the  same  is  in  effect  said  to  every 
minister,  every  child  of  God,  and  every  believer.  He  that 
made  man's  mouth,  will  give  every  thing  suitable  to  the 
mouth,  and  proportion  every  thing  to  the  necessity  of  his  peo- 
ple. And  do,  my  soul,  remark  the  comprehensiveness  of 
the  promise.  Will  not  He  who  undertakes  to  be  with  the 
mouth,  be  also  with  all  the  renewed  faculties  of  the  soul  ? 
Jesus  gives  the  tongue  of  the  learned.  Jesus  gives  grace  to 
the  lips,  understanding  to  the  heart,  eyes  to  the  blind,  feet  to 
the  lame :  thy  bread  shall  be  given,  and  thy  water  shall  be 
sure  ;  and  thy  defence  shall  be  the  munition  of  rocks.  Go 
then,  my  soul,  go  wheresoever  the  Lord  leads :  for  he  saith. 
Be  not  afraid,  I  am  with  thee,  I  am  thy  God.  Learn,  my 
soul,  then  to  eye  Jesus  in  all,  and  depend  upon  it,  Jesus  will 
bless  thee  in  the  use  of  all.  Make  his  glory  thy  aim,  and 
thy  happiness  will  be  his  glory. 


24. — And  the  remnant  of  Jacob  shall  be  in  the  midst  of  many  people  as 
a  dew  from  the  Lord,  as  the  showers  upon  the  grass,  that  tarrieth 
not  for  man,  nor  waiteth  for  the  sons  of  men. — Micah  v.  7. 

Observe,  my  soul,  the  character  given  of  Jacob's  seed,  and 
bless  the  Lord  for  being  included  in  the  number.  For  so 
saith  the  apostle,  If  ye  be  Christ's,  then  are  ye  Abraham's 
seed,  and  heirs  according  to  the  promise.  Mark  then  their 
characters.     They  are  a  remnant.     But  they  are  God's  rem- 


274  MORNING   PORTION. 

Tiant,  being  in  covenant  with  God  in  Christ ;  and  as  such, 
distinguished  and  separated  from  the  world.  They  are  a 
people  that  dwell  alone,  and  not  reckoned  among  the  nations. 
They  are  in  the  midst  of  many  people,  but  belong  to  none  of 
them.  For  though  living  in  the  world,  they  are  not  of  the 
world,  but  chosen  out  of  the  world.  They  are,  moreover,  as 
a  dew  from  the  Lord.  Beautiful  resemblance  !  For  as  the 
dew  is  from  heaven,  so  believers  in  Christ  are  born  from 
above :  not  of  the  will  of  the  flesh,  nor  of  the  will  of  man,  but 
of  God.  Moreover,  they  are  as  showers  upon  the  grass ; 
meaning,  that  as  Jesus  is  promised  to  come  down  as  showers 
upon  the  mown  grass  to  refresh  his  people,  so  his  people  live 
in  a  constant  dependence  upon  Jesus,  and  receive  out  of  his 
fulness,  while  all  the  earth  is  dry  as  stubble  around  them. 
Moreover,  as  the  rain  waiteth  not  for  man,  but  wholly  falls 
from  God's  appointment,  so  grace  is  not  dispensed  for  man's 
desert,  but  the  Lord's  free  bounty.  Oh !  precious  promise, 
or  rather  precious  cluster  of  promises, — and  all  in  Jesus. 

25. — My  beloved  is  unto  me  as  a  cluster  of  camphire  in  the  vineyards  of 
Engedi. — Song  i.  14. 

How  full  indeed,  how  infinitely  full,  abundant,  and  soul- 
satisfying,  is  Jesus,  in  all  that  concerns  life,  light,  grace, 
glory !  A  cluster  of  all  is  Christ ;  whether  the  copher  of 
medicine  to  heal,  or  of  sweetness  to  satisfy,  or  of  riches  to  en- 
large, or  salvation  to  impart.  Every  way,  and  in  every  thing 
that  is  lovely  or  desirable,  Jesus  is  a  cluster  indeed  to  his  peo- 
ple. And  whether  we  meet  him  in  the  valley  or  the  mount, 
in  the  plains  of  Jericho,  or  the  vineyards  of  Engedi,  neither 
place  nor  situation,  neither  state  nor  circumstances,  make  any 
alteration  in  our  Beloved;  he  is,  he  must  be,  Jesus,  and  that 
is  always  lovely. 

26. — He  went  on  frowardly  in   the  way  of  his  heart ;  I  have  seen  his 
ways,  and  will  heal  him. — Isa.  Ivii.  17,  18. 

Pause,  my  soul,  over  this  sweet  scripture  :  and  while  thou 
readest  it,  wilt  thou  not  cry  out,  with  David,  in  the  contempla- 
tion of  the  overwhelming  mercy,  "  And  is  this  the  manner 
of  man,  O  Lord  God?"  2.  Sam.  vii.  19.  Think,  oh  my  soul, 
how  it  was  with  thee,  when  in  the  days  of  thy  unregeneracy 
thou  wentest  on  frowardly  in  the  way  of  thy  perverse  heart. 
Who  could  have  stopped  thee,  had  not  sovereign  grace  %  And 


OBTOBER.  275 

how  justly  might  the  Lord  have  said,  I  have  seen  thy  ways, 
and  will  punish  thee  ;  will  give  thee  over  to  a  reprobate  mind, 
and  forsake  thee  for  ever.  Oh !  the  riches  of  grace,  when, 
from  my  very  unworthiness.  the  Lord  took  occasion  to  mag- 
nify his  love  and  mercy.  Oh  !  Lord  Jesus  !  do  thou  incline 
the  heart  that  thou  hast  healed  to  live  to  thy  praise,  and  let 
the  life  that  thou  hast  saved  from  destruction,  be  spent  in  thy 
service. 


27. — I  have  chosen  thee,  and  not  cast  thee  away. — Isaiah  xli.  2. 

Is  this  thy  portion,  my  soul  ?  Hath  the  Lord  thy  God  in- 
deed chosen  thee  ?  Hath  he  manifested  his  love  to  thee  in 
so  distinguishing  a  way  ?  Take  comfort,  then,  in  all  thine 
exercises,  when  seasons  of  darkness  and  discouragement  are 
around  ;  think  of  God's  choice,  and  venture  on  God's  love! 
Art  thou  distressed,  exercised,  afflicted  ?  Dost  thou  call  on 
God  and  find  no  answer  ?  Doth  the  enemy  tempt  thee  to 
doubt?  Doth  thine  own  unbelieving  heart  misgive  thee ? 
Still  recollect,  Jesus  knows  all.  He  chose  thee — and  he  that 
chose  thee,  knows  all  thine  exercises  :  nay,  he  himself  hath 
appointed  them.  And  remember,  thou  wast  not  forced  upon 
him.  It  was  his  own  free  choice  first  made  thee  his:  and  his 
own  love  will  be  the  security  of  thy  present  dependence.  Je- 
sus resteth  in  his  love  :  he  hateth  putting  a^'ay.  Cast  down 
as  thou  art,  thou  are  not  cast  off  Though  fallen,  he  can 
raise.  Though  dejected,  he  can  and  will  comfort.  Sweet 
thought!  He  will  turn  again;  he  will  have  compassion 
upon  us :  and  he  will  cast  all  our  sins  into  the  depths  of  the 
sea.     Hallelujah ! 

28. — Casting  all  your  care  upon  him,  for  he  eareth  for  you. — 1  Pet.  v.  7. 

Yes,  blessed  Jesus,  I  would  cast  all  upon  thee :  sins,  sor- 
rows, trials,  temptations.  Thou  art  the  Almighty  Burden- 
bearer  of  thy  people;  for  the  Lord  Jehovah  hath  laid  on  thee 
the  iniquity  of  us  all.  And  as  thou  bearest  all  our  sins,  so 
thou  carriest  all  our  sorrows.  And  dost  thou  not  bear  all  the 
persons  of  thy  redeemed?  Dost  thou  not  bear  all  our  trou- 
bles, all  our  exercises,  all  our  temptations,  trials,  difficulties  ? 
The  government  is  upon  thy  shoulder;  the  care  of  the 
churches  is  all  with  thee.  And  shall  I  not  cast  all  my  care 
upon  thee?  Shall  I  be  careful  for  many  things,  while  JesuJ 
saith,  "  Cast  thy  burden  upon  the  Lord,  and  he  shall  sustain 


276  MORNING   PORTION. 

thee  i"  Oh  for  grace  to  set  loose  to  all  things,  and  to  leave 
all  things  with  thee !  Lord,  do  thou  bear  me  up  when  I  am 
falling,  support  me  when  weak,  uphold  me  against  all  mine 
enemies,  carry  me  safe  through  a  life  of  grace  here — and, 
finally,  bring  me  home  to  thy  glory  to  behold  thee,  and  dwell 
with  thee  for  ever, 

29. — He  sent  his  word,  and  healed  them. — Psalm  cvii.  20 

Of  all  the  subjects  to  comfort  our  minds  in  the  recollection 
of  the  mercies  in  Jesus,  the  authority  and  name  of  Jehovah 
in  the  appointment  comes  home  with  the  greatest  comfort  to 
the  heart.  This  is  faith's  warrant — this  is  faith's  confidence. 
Who  sent  Jesus ;  who  sent  his  word  ;  who  is  it  that  gives 
validity  and  efficacy  to  salvation  ?  Jehovah.  "  Beware  of 
him,"  saith  the  Lord,  "  my  name  is  in  him."  And  how  then 
can  my  soul  fail,  or  any  promise  in  Christ  pass  unfulfilled, 
when  Jehovah  sends,  and  Christ  completes  the  work  the  Fa- 
ther gave  him  to  do.  Blessed  Jesus,  may  I  always  look  to 
thee  under  this  precious  character :  and  may  I  hear  thee 
speaking  under  that  solemn  but  blessed  title,  "  I  am  the  Lord 
that  healeth  thee." 

30. — Thy  shoes  shall  be  iron  and  brass  ;  and  as  the  day  so  shall  thy 
strength  be. — Deut  xxxiii.  25. 

What  a  thought  that  is  which  the  word  of  God  furnish- 
eth,  in  the  view  of  everlasting  engagements,  that  a  suitable 
strength  is  laid  up  for  every  emergency.  God's  love  hath 
provided  adequate  supplies  to  the  wants  of  all  his  people. 
What  strength  of  enemies  shall  be  equal  to  the  everlasting 
strength  of  God  ?  What  shall  drain  the  resources  of  ever- 
lasting love?  What  shall  dry  up  the  streams  which  flow 
from  an  everlasting  fountain  1  Jesus  therefore  will  propor- 
tion the  back  of  his  people  to  the  burden.  His  grace  shall 
be  sufficient  for  all :  it  shall  be  sufficient  for  you,  it  shall  be 
sufficient  for  me,  for  every  one,  for  all.  Sweet  thought !  Oh 
for  grace  to  keep  it  always  in  remembrance ! 

31. — There  remaineth  therefore  a  rest  to  the  people  of  God. — Heb.  iv.  9. 

Blessed  motto  for  the  close  of  the  month,  or  the  day,  or 
year  ;  after  being  fatigued  with  the  thoughts,  and  cares,  and 
anxieties,  of  life.     My  soul,  delight  thyself  in  the  thought  of 


NOVEMBER.  277 

it — look  forward  to  the  speedy  enjoyment  of  it.  Like  the 
prophet's  vision,  it  will  come  :  wait  for  it.  No  sorrow  you 
have  gone  through  will  ever  come  over  again.  No  persecu- 
tion already  felt  shall  exactly  be  again  practised.  The  same 
trial  shall  not  be  again  known.  Every  day,  every  hour  of 
the  day,  we  are  nearer  home.  Precious  consideration ! 
And  Jesus  is  the  rest  of  his  people.  Lord,  in  thee  alone  I 
find  rest :  be  thou  my  hope,  and  be  thou  my  portion  for  ever. 


NOVEMBER 


1. — For  thou  wilt  light  my  candle. — Psalm  xviii.  28. 

PRECiors  consideration !  It  is  the  Lord  that  lighteth  the 
candle  of  his  people.  And  if  the  Lord  light  it,  what  power 
can  put  it  out?  Cherish,  my  soul,  the  faith  this  thought 
awakens,  amidst  all  the  darkness  around  thee  and  in  thee. 
Hath  the  Lord  indeed  given  thee  light  ?  Dost  thou  in  his 
light  see  light !  In  the  light  of  God  the  Father,  dost  thou 
behold  God  the  Son  ;  and,  by  the  enlightening  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  hast  thou  the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of 
God  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ  ?  Oh,  the  blessedness  of 
such  a  state  of  light,  and  life,  and  knowledge  ;  how  is  it  pos- 
sible then  any  more  to  be  in  darkness,  when  the  Lord  himself 
is  my  everlasting  light,  and  my  God  my  glory  1  Now  con- 
sider the  reverse  of  this  in  creature-enlightening.  "  How 
oft,"  saith  Job,  "  is  the  candle  of  the  wicked  put  out?"  And 
how  exposed  is  it  to  be  every  moment  put  out ;  for  it  is  not 
of  God's  kindling.  A  Jieeting  of  its  own  oil  will  do  it. 
What  is  called  a  thief  in  the  candle  \\\\\  do  it.  It  may  be 
blown  out ;  it  may  be  snuffed  out ;  or  if  none  of  these  causes 
occur,  yet  of  itself  it  must  shortly  hum  out.  For  what  is  our 
life  but  a  vapour  ?  My  soul,  ponder  these  things.  Hath  the 
Lord  lighted  thy  candle?  Is  Jesus  thy  light,  thy  joy,  thy 
sunshine,  thy  morning  star,  thy  all  in  all?  And  hath  he 
risen  upon  thee,  never  more  to  go  down  ?  Oh,  then,  though 
all  thou  knowest,  all  thou  beholdest  now,  is  but  as  the  faint 
taper  of  the  night,  compared  to  the  glory  of  that  day  which 
shall  be  revealed,  yet  take  to  thyself  by  faith  all  the  sweet 

24 


278  MORNING    PORTION. 

comforts  of  thy  state  of  grace,  and  say — It  is  the  Lord  that 
hath  lighted  my  candle  ;  the  Lord  my  God  will  enlighten  all 
remaining  darkness :  I  shall  see  thy  face  in  glory,  and 
shortly  awake  up  after  thy  likeness. 

2. — But  the  Comforter,  which  is  the  Holy  Ghost,  whom  the  Father  will 
send  in  my  name,  he  shall  teach  you  all  things,  and  bring  all  things 
to  your  remembrance,  whatsoever  I  have  said  unto  you. — John  xiv. 
26. 

Oh,  blessed  Spirit,  to  whom  I  owe  such  unspeakable  mer- 
cies! Let  me,  Lord,  contemplate  thee  this  day  under  this 
gracious,  kind,  compassionate  office,  of  the  Comforter.  Thou 
art  indeed  the  Holy  Ghost  the  Comforter.  And  how  merci- 
fully dost  thou  sympathize  with  all  the  followers  of  Jesus 
in  their  various  afflictions,  both,  of  soul  and  body !  How 
tenderly  dost  thou  show  us  our  sins,  and  lead  to  Jesus'  blood 
to  wash  them  away  !  How  sweetly  dost  thou  visit,  encourage, 
strengthen,  instruct,  lead,  and  guide,  into  all  truth?  And 
how  powerfully  at  times,  by  thy  restraining  grace,  dost  thou 
enable  us  to  mortify  the  deeds  of  the  body,  that  we  may  live! 
Hail,  thou  holy,  blessed,  almighty  Comforter!  Oh,  let  thy 
visits  be  continual !  Come,  Lord,  and  abide  with  me,  and  be 
with  me  for  ever.  Manifest  that  thou  art  the  Sent  of  the 
Father  and  of  the  Son,  in  coming  to  me  in  Jesus'  name,  in 
teaching  me  of  all  the  precious  things  concerning  Jesus,  and 
acting  as  the  Remembrancer  of  Jesus  ;  that  in  thee,  and  by 
thy  blessed  office- work,  I  may  know,  and  live  in  the  sweet 
enjoyment  of  fellowship  with  the  Father,  and  with  his  Son 
Jesus  Christ,  through  the  influences  of  thee,  the  Holy  Ghost 
the  Comforter ! 


3. — And  in  that  day  there  shall  be  no  more  the  Canaanite  in  the  house 
of  the  Lord  of  hosts. — Zech.  xiv.  21. 

Oh,  precious  day  of  God,  when  will  it  arrive  ?  Shall  the 
house  of  Jesus  be  indeed  delivered  from  all  false  pastors,  all 
corrupt  worship,  and  the  Lord  have  turned  to  the  people  a 
pure  language,  that  they  may  all  call  upon  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  to  serve  him  with  one  consent?  Shall  my  soul  indeed 
be  freed,  not  only  from  all  the  sorrows,  pains,  evils,  and 
afflictions,  of  sin  around  me,  but  what  is  infinitely  better  than 
all.  from  the  very  being  and  indwelling  of  sin  within  me? 
Shall  the  fountain  of  corruption,  both  of  original  and  actuaJ 


NOVEMBER.  279 

sin,  be  dried  up,  so  that  I  shall  never  think  a  vain  thought, 
nor  speak  an  idle  sinful  word  any  more  ?  Is  there  such  a 
day,  in  which  the  Canaanite  shall  be  wholly  driven  out  1 
Oh,  blessed  thought !  precious,  precious  promise.  Oh,  dear- 
est Jesus,  to  what  a  blessed  state  hast  thou  begotten  poor  sin- 
ners of  the  earth  by  thy  blood  and  righteousness.  Hasten 
it.  Lord.  Cat  short  thy  work,  thou  that  art  mighty  to  save, 
and  take  thy  willing  captive  home  from  myself,  and  all  the 
remaining  Canaanites  yet  in  the  land,  which  are  the  very 
tyrants  of  my  soul. 

4. — For  I  know  that  ye  seek  Jesus  which  was  crucified. — Matt,  xxviii.  5. 

Is  it  indeed  known  unto  my  Lord  that  I  seek  him  ?  Doth 
Jesus  know  that  I  desire  him  more  than  my  necessary  food? 
Ye  angels  of  light,  that  watched  over  his  sepulchre,  do  ye 
witness  for  me  that  he  is  more  precious  to  me  than  gold,  yea, 
than  the  golden  wedge  of  Ophir.  And  can  I,  do  I,  humbly 
appeal  to  him  that  readeth  the  heart  and  knoweth  all  things, 
and  say.  Thou  knowest,  Lord,  that  I  love  thee  ?  Be  com- 
forted then,  my  soul :  He  whom  thou  seekest  will  be  soon 
found  of  thee.  He  is  near  at  hand.  He  hath  never  been  a 
wilderness  to  his  people  :  neither  hath  he  ever  said  to  the 
praying  seed  of  Jacob,  Seek  ye  my  face  in  vain.  While 
thou  art  seeking  him,  he  is  looking  on  thee.  And  the  very 
desires  in  thine  heart  of  seeking  him,  it  is  Jesus  hath  kindled. 
And  nothing  can  be  more  sure  than  that  He  who  kindled 
them  in  thine  heart  did  not  kindle  them  in  vain.  Sweet 
thought.     I  bless  thee  for  it,  thou  gracious  Lord  ! 

5. — The  king  hath  brought  me  into  his  chambers. — Song  i.  4. 

Yes  !  he  who  is  King  of  nations.  King  of  saints,  is  my 
God  and  King  also  ;  for  he  hath  an  universal  empire,  being 
One  with  the  Father  over  all,  blessed  for  ever  !  Amen.  To 
him  I  bow  the  knee,  and  humbly  and  gratefully  desire  to  put 
the  crown  of  my  salvation  on  his  adorable  head.  And  what 
hath  this  Sovereign  done  for  thee,  my  soul  1  Oh  !  record  his 
praise ;  tell  it  to  saints  and  sinners  all  around.  This  great, 
and  glorious,  and  condescending  King,  hath  not  only  brought 
thee  out  of  darkness  and  the  shadow  of  death,  but  hath 
brought  thee  into  his  chambers.  What  chambers?  Cham- 
bers of  sweet  communion  and  fellowship  ;  chambers  of  love, 
of  grace,  of  mercy,  of  redemption,  of  ordinances,  and  of  all 


280  MORNING    PORTION. 

covenant  blessings.  He  hath  taught  me  of  his  love  and  my 
privileges  in  him,  and  so  assured  me  of  my  everlasting  safety 
in  him  and  his  finished  salvation  ;  that  by-and-by,  when, 
from  those  outward  chambers  of  grace,  he  hath  accomplished 
all  his  blessed  purposes  concerning  me,  he  will  bring  me 
home  into  his  inner  chambers  of  light  and  glory,  from  whence 
I  shall  go  out  no  more,  but  dwell  in  them,  and  in  the  presence 
of  God  and  the  Lamb,  for  ever  and  ever.     Hallelujah ! 


6. — For  the  Father  himself  loveth  you,  because  ye  have  loved  me,  and 
have  believed  that  I  came  out  from  God. — John  xvi.  27. 

See,  my  soul,  how  thy  Jesus  hath  endeared  to  thee  the 
Father  in  the  assurance  of  his  love.  And  wilt  thou  not  feel 
thine  whole  affections  going  forth  in  continual  love  after 
him  1  Was  it  not  thy  Father  which,  from  everlasting  gave 
thee  Jesus  as  thy  Saviour,  and  gave  thee  to  Jesus  that  he 
might  redeem  thee  ?  Was  it  not  from  the  same  precious 
source  that  Jesus  came  as  a  Saviour,  and  a  great  one,  to  re- 
deem thee,  and  other  great  sinners  ?  Is  it  not  thy  Father, 
that  hath  adopted  thee  into  his  family  in  Jesus,  and  given 
thee  the  spirit  of  adoption,  whereby  thou  criest  Abba  Father? 
And  doth  he  not  accept  thee  in  Jesus,  bless  thee  in  Jesus, 
nourish  thee  with  the  body  and  blood  of  Jesus,  clothe  thee 
with  the  righteousness  of  Jesus,  and  give  thee  all  temporal, 
spiritual,  and  by-and-by  will  give  thee  all  eternal,  blessings  in 
Christ  Jesus  ?  Nay,  even  his  chastisements  have  nothing  in 
them  of  wrathful  punishment,  but  fatherly  love  and  mercy  in 
Jesus !  Oh,  my  soul,  pause,  and  behold  what  manner  of 
love  the  Father  hath  bestowed  upon  thee,  that  thou  shouldest 
be  called  a  child  of  God  !  And  wilt  thou  not  then  from  hence- 
forth and  for  ever  say  unto  him,  in  Jesus,  My  Father  !  thou  art 
the  guide  of  my  youth,  for  thou  hast  commanded  me  so  to 
call  thee.     Jeremiah  iii.  19. 

7. — And  yet  there  ia  room. — Luke  xiv.  22. 

Room  !  where,  and  for  whom  ?  Room  in  the  gospel  of 
salvation,  and  for  poor  perishing  sinners,  in  the  blood  and 
righteousness  of  Jesus  Christ.  Room  in  the  heart  of  God 
the  Father ;  in  the  love,  grace,  mercy,  and  peace  of  God  the 
Son  ;  and  in  the  teachings,  influences,  and  fellowship  of  God 
the  Holy  Ghost.  Room  in  the  plentiful  provisions  of  grace, 
the  calls  of  the  gospel,  the  ministration  of  the  word  and  or- 


NOVEMBER.  281 

dinances  in  the  house  of  prayer.  Whosoever  toill^  is  the 
gracious  invitation  ;  whosoever  feels  his  heart  made  willing- 
in  the  day  of  God's  power,  let  him  come  and  take  of  the  neater 
of  life  freely.  Lord,  is  there  room  for  me  ?  Thousands,  and 
tens  of  thousands,  have  found  room,  through  thy  grace  in- 
clining them  to  come  ;  and  yet  the  scripture  sweetly  saith 
again  this  day,  And  yet  there  is  room.  Oh,  give  me  grace 
to  see  that  1  am  one  of  the  invited,  one  of  the  happy  number 
that  hath  found  room  ;  and  from  experiencing  the  blessed 
fulness,  riches,  grace,  suitableness,  and  all-sufficiency  in  the 
blood  and  righteousness  of  Jesus  for  poor  sinners,  I  may 
proclaim  every  where  around,  that  others  may  find  the  same, 
that  yet  there  is  room.  And  oh.  Lord,  grant,  that  while  yet 
there  is  room,  multitudes  that  are  ready  to  perish  may  come. 
And  then  all  thj'-  royal  guests  whom  thou  br ingest  to  thy 
banquet,  and  who  find  room  in  all  the  mercies  of  Jehovah 
for  redemption  here  below,  will  find  room  in  the  house  not 
made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens. 


8. — The  people  shall  dwell  alone,  and  shall  not  be  reckoned  among  the 
nations. — Numb,  xxiii.  9. 

Mark,  my  soul,  the  character  of  God's  Israel,  and  re- 
member that  they  are  the  same  in  all  ages.  Distinguishing 
mercies  are  sweet  mercies.  God's  people  dwell  alone,  in  the 
everlasting  appointment  of  the  Father,  by  whom  they  were 
set  apart,  and  formed  for  his  glory,  and  given  to  his  Son. 
They  dwell  alone,  in  being  brought  into  the  church  of  Jesus, 
as  the  redeemed  and  purchased  by  his  blood.  They  dwell 
alone  under  the  sweet  influences  of  the  Spirit,  by  whom  they 
are  known,  distinguished,  regenerated,  and  sealed,  unto  the 
day  of  redemption.  Thus  set  apart,  thus  formed,  thus  given, 
thus  redeemed,  thus  purchased,  thus  sealed,  surely  they  are 
not  reckoned  among  the  nations,  but  are  supposed  to  show 
forth  God's  praises,  who  hath  called  them  out  of  darkness 
into  his  marvellous  light.  My  soul,  what  saith  thy  experience 
to  these  things  1  Oh,  how  different  the  state,  the  circum- 
stances, the  new  birth,  the  fellowship,  pursuits,  way,  life,  and 
work  of  God's  people,  from  the  world.  Blessed  Jesus ! 
cause  me  to  dwell  alone  from  the  nations  around  :  but  let  me 
not  dwell  a  moment  without  thee  ;  but  do  thou  come  with 
thy  Father  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  according  to  thy  sweet  pro- 
miseSj  and  make  constant  abode  with  me. 

24* 


282  MORNING   PORTION. 

9. — And  many  of  them  that  sleep  in  the  dust  of  the  earth  shall  awake, 
some  to  everlasting  Ufe,  and  some  to  shame  and  everlasting  con- 
tempt.— Daniel  xii.  2. 

What  a  morning  will  this  be!  how  distinguished  from 
every  other !  Lord,  how  often  do  I  now  awake,  with 
thoughts  of  earth,  and  sin,  and  trifles,  and  vanity !  How 
have  I  opened  mine  eyes  this  morning  ?  Was  it,  dearest 
Jesus,  with  thoughts  of  thee  ?  In  that  solemn  morning,  there 
will  be  no  longer  dreams  as  now,  even  in  our  waking  hours: 
for  all  childish  imaginations,  shadows,  doubts,  and  fears  will 
be  done  away.  Precious,  blessed  Lord  Jesus !  cause  me, 
morning  by  morning,  while  upon  earth,  to  awaken  with 
sweet  thoughts  of  thee.  Let  the  close  of  night,  and  the  open- 
ing of  the  day,  be  with  thy  dear  name  in  my  heart,  on  my 
thought,  and  on  my  lips :  and  in  that  everlasting  morning, 
after  having  dropped  asleep  in  Jesus,  and  in  thy  arms  by 
faith,  may  I  awake  up  in  thy  embraces,  and  after  thy  like- 
ness, to  be  everlastingly  and  eternally  satisfied  with  thee. 

10. — For  such  an  High  Priest  became  ns,  vfho  is  holy,  harmless,  unde- 
filed,  separate  from  sinners,  and  made  higher  than  the  heavens. — 
Heb.  vii.  26. 

What  a  sweet  thought !  Surely,  as  a  poor  sinner,  I  need 
an  High-priest  to  act  for  me.  I  cannot,  I  dare  not,  approach 
in  myself,  and  with  my  poor  polluted  offerings,  without  one. 
But  he  that  intercedes  for  me,  must  be  himself  holy,  free  from 
sin :  his  sacrifice  holy,  his  obedience  holy,  and  in  all  points 
suited  to  his  office,  and  my  necessities.  Cherish,  then,  the 
thouglit,  my  soul.  He  that  is  thine  High-priest,  is  all  this, 
and  infinitely  more.  So  holy  in  himself,  that  not  the  shadow 
of  sin  was  in  him.  So  harmless,  that  in  his  mouth  was  found 
no  guile.  So  undefiled,  that  though  he  took  all  the  sins  of 
his  people  upon  him,  yet  in  himself  he  was  free  from  all  sin. 
So  separate  from  sinners,  that  though  he  took  the  nature  of 
man,  yet  wholly  underived  from  man  ;  and  so  much  higher 
than  the  heavens,  that  his  own  personal  holiness  infinitely 
transcended  the  holiness  of  angels.  For  while  they  are  said 
to  be  charged  with  folly,  Jesus  is  the  Holy  One  in  whom  the 
Father  declared  himself  well  pleased.  Meditate,  my  soul,  on 
these  precious  features  in  thy  Jesus,  at  all  times,  and  upon  all 
occasions :  and  more  especially,  when  thou  drawest  nigh  the 
throne  of  grace  in  and  through  this  glorious  Mediator.  And 
moreover,  for  thy  further  comfort  and  encouragement  to  come 


NOVEMBER.  283 

boldly  to  the  mercy-seat,  forget  not  to  recollect  the  still  fur- 
ther blessed  thought,  that  this  holiness  of  Jesus  is  the  righ- 
teousness of  all  his  people ;  for  he  was  made  sin,  when  he 
knew  no  sin,  that  they  might  be  made  the  righteousness  of 
God  in  him.  And,  as  if  this  was  not  enough,  Christ  glori- 
fied not  himself  to  be  made  thy  High-priest,  but  was  called 
to  it,  as  was  Aaron.  Go  then,  my  soul,  go  to  the  precious, 
the  holy,  the  harmless,  the  undefiled.  High-priest,  Christ  Je- 
sus, in  whom,  and  in  whose  righteousness  and  atoning  blood, 
thou  mayest  always  have  boldness  to  draw  nigh,  to  find 
grace,  and  mercy  to  help,  in  all  time  of  need. 

11. — And  in  that  day  there  shall  be  a  root  of  Jesse,  which  shall  stand 
for  an  ensign  of  the  people  ;  to  it  shall  the  Gentiles  seek  ;  and  his 
rest  shall  be  glorioiis. — Isaiah  xi.  10. 

Jesus  is  both  the  root  and  the  offspring  of  David,  and  the 
bright  and  morning  star  ;  and,  therefore,  is  not  this  the  day, 
the  very  day,  the  joyful  day,  in  which  he  was  set  up,  as 
God  the  Father's  ensign  from  everlasting,  for  salvation  in  the 
council  of  peace  ?  And  was  he  not  brought  forth,  and  set 
up,  and  proclaimed,  as  God's  salvation  to  us  poor  Gentiles  in 
the  fulness  of  time,  as  well  as  the  light  of  his  people  Israel  ? 
Surely  it  can  have  reference  to  no  other.  Precious  Jesus  !  I 
do  indeed  behold  thee,  as  set  up  from  everlasting.  Thou 
wert  so  exhibited  in  the  council  of  peace  ;  and  thy  goings 
forth  were  from  everlasting,  when  thou  wentest  forth  for  the 
salvation  of  thy  people.  In  the  Bible,  thou  art  the  great 
Promise,  and  the  whole  of  the  promises.  Thou  art  the 
whole  of  the  law  and  the  prophets.  Both  the  Old  Testament 
dispensation,  and  the  New  Testament  grace,  all  pointed  to 
thee,  and  in  thee  they  had  their  completion.  Thou  art  the 
Father's  ensign  of  redemption,  the  signal  of  war  with  sin, 
with  Satan,  and  all  the  powers  of  Hell  and  corruption.  Lord! 
to  thee  do  I  seek ;  under  thy  banner,  and  in  thy  strength, 
would  I  enjoy  a  rest  which  indeed  must  be  glorious.  And 
oh,  thou  blessed  Spirit  of  all  truth !  when  at  any  time  the 
enemy  cometh  in  hke  a  flood,  do  thou  lift  up  thy  ensign,  even 
Jesus,  as  a  standard  against  him. 

12. — And  they  shall  come  which  were  ready  to  perish. — Isaiah  xxvii.  13. 

What  a  blessed  promise  is  this  to  a  poor  sinner,  that  is 
conscious  of  his  being  in  perishing  circumstances.     My  soul, 


284  MORNING   roRTlON. 

pause  over  it  this  morning.  Art  thou  not,  if  considered  out 
of  Christ,  in  perishing  circumstances,  hy  reason  of  the  cap- 
tivity of  sin  ?  Art  thou  not  perishing  under  the  sentence  of 
God's  broken  law ;  under  the  just  judgment  of  God,  the 
alarms  of  thine  own  guilty  conscience,  the  accusations  of  Sa- 
tan, the  fear  of  death,  and  the  prospect  of  judgment  and  eter- 
nity? And  doth  this  sweet  scripture  hold  forth  a  provision 
for  such  perishing  circumstances  ?  Doth  it  really  say,  that 
such  shall  come  ?  Nay,  that  they  shall  come,  whatever  ob- 
structions, either  from  within  or  without,  shall  block  up  the 
way  ?  Will  the  Lord  enable  them,  lead  them,  help  tnem, 
nay,  constrain  them  to  come,  in  defiance  of  all  impediments  ? 
Oh  !  precious,  precious  Jesus  !  may  the  blessing  of  him  that 
is  ready  to  perish  come  upon  thee :  for  thou  dost  indeed  make 
the  widowed  heart,  and  the  sorrowful  heart,  to  sing  for  joy. 
Blessed  be  thy  name,  for  that  thou  hast  made  me  willing  in 
the  day  of  thy  power  ! 

13. — Christ  hath  given  himself  for  us,  an  offering  and  a  sacrifice  to  God, 
for  a  sweet  smelling  savour. — Eph.  v.  2. 

If,  when  Noah  offered  by  faith  his  sacrifice  at  the  coming 
forth  from  the  ark,  the  Lord  smelled  a  sweet  savour  in  it,  be- 
cause both  the  ark  and  sacrifice  was  a  type  of  his  dear  Son  ; 
how  fragrant  and  acceptable  must  have  been  the  substance, 
when  Jesus  offered  himself  without  spot  to  God?  Behold 
him  by  faith,  my  soul,  in  that  hour,  in  the  full  incense  of  his 
own  merit,  the  censer  of  his  own  offering,  and  the  golden 
altar  of  his  own  nature !  And  while  God,  even  the  everlast- 
ing Father,  accepts  Jesus  as  thy  Surety,  in  the  fragrancy  of 
his  offering,  wilt  thou  not  by  faith  so  apprehend  the  sweet 
influence  of  his  person,  work,  and  righteousness,  as  to  rejoice 
before  God  in  the  sure  acceptance  of  thyself  and  all  thy  poor 
offerings  in  the  Beloved  ?  Oh,  let  a  throne  of  grace  be  a 
daily,  hourly,  testimony  for  thee,  that  all  thy  approaches  here 
are  under  the  incense  and  intercession  of  Jesus  ;  and  all  thine 
hopes  and  expectations  of  glory  hereafter,  are  all  founded  in 
him  and  his  finished  salvation.  Yes  !  thou  Lamb  of  God  ! 
let  all  witness  for  me,  that  thou,  and  thou  alone,  art  the  Lord 
my  Righteousness,  and  that  I  seek  salvation  in  no  other,  most 
perfectly  assured  from  thine  own  Spirit's  teaching,  that  there 
is  no  other  name  under  heaven,  given  among  men,  whereby 
we  must  be  saved.     Hallelujah ! 


NOVEMBER.  285 

14. — And  the  parched  ground  shall  become  a  pool,  and  the  thirsty  land 
springs  of  water. — Isaiah  xxxv.  7. 

Oh  !  how  refreshing  is  this  promise  to  my  poor,  dry,  bar- 
ren, thirsty  soul !  Surely  every  poor  sinner  like  me,  that 
knows  his  own  leanness  and  poverty,  will  feel  the  blessedness 
of  it ;  for  whether  he  be  in  the  sapless  state  of  unawakened 
nature,  or  whether  in  a  scorched  or  languishing  state,  from 
the  want  of  the  renewings  of  grace,  nothing  can  be  more 
refreshing  than  such  a  promise.  Precious  Jesus  !  do  thou 
revive  the  languishing  frame  of  thy  people  ;  do  thou  pour 
water  upon  him  that  is  thirsty,  and  floods  upon  the  dry  ground. 
Oh  what  a  fulness,  blessed  Lord !  there  is  in  thyself  to  sup- 
ply all.  Surely  thou  art,  as  the  church  said,  "  A  fountain  of 
gardens,  a  well  of  living  waters,  and  streams  from  Lebanon." 
Do  thou  then,  oh  Lord,  send  forth  this  day,  this  blessed  day, 
such  copious  streams  from  thyself  as  may  cleanse,  revive,  com- 
fort, satisfy,  and  strengthen,  all  thy  churches.  Lord,  cause 
me  to  drink  of  the  rivers  of  thy  pleasure  ;  for  with  thee  is 
the  fountain  of  life. 


15. — At  our  gates  are  all  manner  of  pleasant  fruits,  new  and  old,  which 
I  have  laid  up  for  thee,  O  my  beloved. — Song  vii.  13- 

Yes,  blessed  Jesus  !  at  the  gates  of  ordinances,  and  the 
word  of  thy  gospel,  all  the  pleasant  and  precious  fruits  of 
the  Spirit,  which  come  in  new  and  fresh  supplies  from  thee, 
are  indeed  laid  up.  And  oh  !  how  sweet  and  refreshing  are 
they,  brought  home  and  laid  up  in  my  heart,  by  thy  divine 
power,  when  thou  enablest  me  by  faith,  and  in  thy  leadings 
and  strength,  to  go  forth  and  bring  them  home,  and  to  live 
upon  them,  and  feed  upon  them,  from  day  to  day.  And  shall 
I  not  then  blessed  Jesus !  by  the  endearing  name  of  my  Be- 
loved, call  upon  thee  to  command  the  north  wind,  and  the 
south  wind,  to  blow  upon  thy  garden  in  my  heart  and  in  my 
soul,  that  the  spices  may  flow ;  and  that  then  my  Beloved 
may  come  into  his  garden,  and  eat  of  his  own  pleasant  fruits 
which  his  grace  alone  planted,  and  which  his  Spirit  bringeth 
forth  and  ripens. 

16. — Thou  shalt  weep  no  more  :  he  will  be  very  gracious  imto  thee  at 
the  voice  of  thy  cry  ;  when  he  shall  hear  it,  he  will  answer  thee. — 
Isaiah  XXX.  19. 

Listen  to  this,  my  soul.  Ponder  ov^  every  precious  word 
in  it.     Are  not  all  tears  dried  from  thine  eyes,  when  behold- 


286  MORNING   PORTION. 

ing  that  complete  salvation  in  which  thou  art  interested,  in 
Christ  Jesus  ?  Believers  are  commanded  to  sorrow  no  more, 
as  others  without  hope.  And  doth  Jesus  indeed  wait  to  be 
gracious,  nay,  very  gracious  ?  Is  it  possible  to  consider,  that 
He,  w^ho  hath  all  power  in  heaven  and  in  earth,  waits  upon 
a  poor  worm  of  the  dust,  and  this  in  order  to  be  gracious  1 
Come  then,  my  soul,  unto  the  mercy-seat.  Do  thou  wait  for 
him  who  thus  waits  for  thee.  And  as  soon  as  thy  Lord 
hath  heard,  and  answered  one  prayer,  do  thou  follow  it  up 
with  another.  Remember  that  he  waits  to  be  gracious  ;  and 
Jesus  is  glorified  in  giving  out  of  his  fulness,  to  supply  the 
wants  of  his  people.  And  what  petitions,  my  soul,  hast  thou 
now  before  the  throne  ?  What  mercies  art  thou  waiting  for  1 
Lord,  help  me  to  know  my  need,  and  thy  fulness  to  supply. 
Help  me  to  be  for  ever  bartering  my  poverty  for  thy  riches, 
and  my  sins  for  thy  righteousness  :  that  while  thou  art  com- 
ing forth  to  me  in  mercy,  my  soul  may  be  going  forth  to 
meet  thee  in  prayer ;  and  while  Jesus  is  loading  me  with 
benefits,  my  poor  heart  may  for  ever  be  proclaiming  his 
praise. 


17. — And  he  was  clothed  with  a  vesture  dipped  in  blood. — Rev.  xix.  13. 

Oh,  thou  bleeding  Lamb  of  God !  didst  thou  thus  appear 
to  thy  serv^ant  John,  to  tell  him,  and  the  church  through  him, 
that  thy  priesthood  and  thy  sacrifice  are  of  the  same  ever- 
lasting nature  and  efficacy  as  thy  person  and  thy  finished 
work — the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  for  ever  ?  And 
didst  thou  thus  manifest  thyself,  by  way  of  assuring  thy  poor 
needy  follower  that  thou  delightest  in  thine  office,  and  lovest 
to  be  employed !  Was  it  not,  dearest  Jesus,  to  this  end,  and 
as  much  in  effect,  as  if  thou  hadst  said,  See,  I  wear  these 
priestly  garments :  behold  my  vesture  still  fresh  with  the 
blood  which  I  ofTered,  in  the  day  of  my  sacrifice  on  the  cross, 
for  my  redeemed ;  and  for  whom  I  still  appear  in  the  bloody 
robe,  as  a  proof  of  its  everlasting  efficacy.  For  whom,  but 
for  my  people,  do  I  wear  this  vesture  ?  My  soul,  art  thou 
looking  now,  with  an  eye  of  faith,  within  the  veil?  Hast  thou 
a  blessing  to  ask  at  the  court  of  heaven  this  day  ?  Fly  then 
to  Jesus.  Behold  him  still  as  John  beheld  him,  and  hear 
w^hat  he  saith.  Remember,  his  blood  speaks ;  for  so  the 
Holy  Ghost  declares — it  speaks  better  things  than  that  of 
Abel ;  for  Abel's  bloo«[  cried  for  vengeance:  Jesus'  pleads  for 
mercy.     And  doth  it  not  speak  to  God  for  pardon  ;  and /row 


NOVEMBER.  287 

God  in  covenant  promises  of  pardon?  Oh,  the  blessedness 
to  behold  Jesus  clothed  with  a  vesture  dipped  in  blood,  in 
confirmation  that  we  have  redemption  through  his  blood,  the 
forgiveness  of  sins,  according  to  the  riches  of  his  grace. 

is. — Good  news  from  a  far  country. — Prov.  xxv.  23. 

From  a  far  country  indeed  !  for  it  is  no  less  distant  than 
from  heaven  to  earth,  and  from  beings  as  opposite  as  holiness 
and  sin  could  make — even  from  God  to  man,  from  a  rich  Sa- 
viour to  poor  sinners.  And  so  remote,  that  had  not  this 
good  news  been  sent,  heaven  must  have  remained  at  an  eter- 
nal distance,  as  an  inaccessible  region.  And  what  is  the 
good  news  itself?  The  angels  who  were  first  sent  to  pro- 
claim it,  called  it  glad  tidings  of  good  things,  of  great  joy  to 
all  people.  And,  indeed,  such  glad  tidings  it  contains,  as 
language  fails  to  describe.  It  is  pardon,  mercy,  and  peace, 
to  poor  rebels.  It  holds  forth  joy,  happiness,  and  everlasting 
felicity,  to  sinners,  enemies,  and  the  fallen  race  of  men.  God 
revealed,  sin  atoned,  Satan  conquered,  death  destroyed,  hell 
vanquished,  heaven  opened.  And  these  not  all.  This  good 
news  informs  also  of  the  stupendous  way  by  which  the  bles- 
sings are  given,  and  everlasting  happiness  secured.  Jesus, 
the  Son  of  God,  the  Author,  the  Finisher,  the  Source,  Cause, 
Sum,  Substance,  Beginning,  End,  and  Portion,  of  all  his  peo- 
ple. These,  among  an  infinite  and  endless  volume  of  mer- 
cies are  contained  in  the  good  new^s  from  a  far  country ;  but 
we  must  enter  upon  that  country,  to  which  indeed  we  are  in- 
vited by  the  proclamation  of  the  gospel,  before  that  we  shall 
fully  know,  or  even  conceive,  the  thousandth  part  of  what 
God  hath  laid  up  for  them  that  love  him.  My  soul,  hast 
thou  heard  this  good  news  ?  Dost  thou  know  the  joyful 
sound  1  Art  thou  truly  alive  to  the  blessed  things  contained 
in  it,  and  anxious  to  be  interested  therein  ?  Oh  !  then,  medi- 
tate upon  them  ;  give  thyself  wholly  to  them.  And  while 
men  of  the  world,  from  the  world  are  seeking  their  chief 
good,  and  asking  one  another.  What  news?  do  thou  turn  a 
deaf  ear  to  every  other  relation  of  a  dying  world,  from  which 
thou  art  dying  daily,  and  let  thy  meditations  be  all  the  day, 
and  let  thine  eyes  prevent  the  night-watches  to  dwell  upon 
this  good  news,  and  this  only,  which  cometh  from  a  far 
country. 


288  MORNING   PORTION. 

19. — The  strength  of  sin  is  the  law.     But  thanks  be  to  God  which  giveth 
us  the  victory,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Clirist. — 1  Cor.  xv.  56,  57. 

Pai'SE,  my  soul,  over  this  solemn,  but  yet  sweet  verse.  The 
strength  of  sin  is  the  law.  Does  sin  derive  strength  from  the 
law  ?  Yes,  for  the  motions  of  sin,  which  is  in  our  members, 
gathers  strength  from  the  precepts  in  God's  holy  law,  just  as 
pent  up  waters,  that  are  increasing  from  various  sources,  will 
swell  and  rage  the  more  because  they  are  restrained.  And 
this  is  what  the  Apostle  means,  when  he  saith,  "  Sin,  taking 
occasion  by  the  commandment,  wrought  in  me  all  manner  of 
concupiscence."  For  the  mass  of  indwelling  corruption  is 
stirred  up,  and  excited  into  action,  by  the  law.  The  Lord,  in 
rich  mercy,  teaching  us  by  this  very  process,  that  so  totally 
corrupt  is  our  nature,  that  we  do  not  know  the  whole  work- 
ings of  sin,  until,  by  the  holiness  of  his  commandment,  we 
are  led  to  see  and  feel  a  disposition  to  break  it:  hke  the  first 
transgressors  in  the  garden  of  Eden,  who  lusted  to  eat  of  the 
forbidden  fruit,  because  it  was  forbidden.  So  that  the  very 
precepts  of  God,  by  the  sin  of  our  nature,  become  the  means 
of  giving  strength  to  that  sin  of  our  nature.  The  law  of 
God,  in  this  instance  acts  upon  the  heart,  as  when  the  gar- 
dener's spade  uncovers  the  surface  of  the  earth,  and  the  worms 
which  before  lay  concealed,  appear.  The  worms  were  there 
before,  but  they  did  not  appear  before.  In  like  manner,  the 
law  turns  up  the  heart,  and  then  appears  the  sin  which, 
though  there  before,  lay  undiscovered.  Is  this  thy  case,  my 
soul  1  And  dost  thou  still  carry  about  with  thee  such  a  body 
of  sin  and  death?  Well  might  Paul  call  it  the  mystery  of 
iniquity.  And  well  might  Paul  from  his  deeper  knowledge 
in  the  anatomy  of  the  heart,  cry  out  so  greatly  under  the  bur- 
den of  it.  Oh  !  precious,  precious,  precious.  Lamb  of  God  ! 
how  little  understood,  and  less  regarded,  even  by  those  that 
know  somewhat  of  thee  in  the  riches  and  greatness  of  thy 
salvation,  is  it  considered,  in  ten  thousand  instances  which 
pass  away  in  the  gulph  of  forgetfulness  over  our  unthinking 
minds  ?  Lord,  give  me  to  see  and  feel,  yet  more  and  more, 
that  in  myself  I  am  virtually  all  sin!  And,  Oh  Lord,  give 
me  to  see  and  feel,  yet  more  and  more,  that  thou,  and  thou 
alone,  art  my  Righteousness.  And  let  the  Apostle's  hymn 
of  praise  be  henceforth,  daily  and  hourly  mine — "Thanks 
be  to  God  which  giveth  us  the  victory,  through  our  Lord  Je- 
sus Christ." 


NOVEMBER.  289 

20.— Christ,  the  Wisdom  of  God.— 1  Cor.  i.  24. 

Think,  my  soul,  what  wisdom  is  contained  in  that  one 
word,  and  that  one  person,  Christ.  An  whole  eternity  will 
not  be  sufficient  to  read  over  the  immense  volume  !  Wisdom 
in  planning,  wisdom  in  executing,  wisdom  in  completing,  thjt 
great  salvation.  And  what  a  world  of  wisdom,  in  the  two 
natures  united  in  one  person — the  God-man,  the  Glory-man, 
the  Wisdom-man,  Christ  Jesus.  And  oh  !  what  wisdom  in 
making  sin,  which  strikes  at  God's  sovereignty,  the  very 
means  of  manifesting  God's  power  and  love.  Such  is  the 
wisdom  of  God  in  Christ,  that  sin,  which  in  its  nature  be- 
comes productive  of  the  greatest  dishonour  to  God,  should  be 
rendered  subservient  to  produce  the  greatest  glov}'".  My  soul, 
ponder  these  things.  Then  ask  thyself,  Is  there  not  a  wisdom 
in  this  vast  subject,  as  far  as  it  concerns  thee,  yet  more  won- 
derful than  all  ?  Yes,  for  surely  the  greatest  of  all  myste- 
ries in  this  wonderful  volume,  to  thy  view,  is,  that  thou,  even 
thou,  shouldest  be  made  the  subject  for  the  exercise  of  such 
wisdom,  as  Christ  the  wisdom  of  God,  and  the  power  of  God, 
for  thy  salvation.  And  all  this  even  against  thy  determined 
resolution  to  ruin  thyself  Well  mayest  thou  join  the  apostle 
in  his  overwhelming  song  of  praise,  and  cry  out.  Oh  !  the 
depth  of  the  riches,  both  of  the  wisdom  and  goodness  of 
God! 


21. — And  righteousness  shall  be  the  girdle  of  his  loins,  and  faithfulness 
the  girdle  of  his  reigns. — Isaiah  xi.  5. 

Mark  these  expressions,  my  soul,  concerning  thy  Cove- 
nant God  in  Christ.  The  Lord  condescends  by  them  to  re- 
present both  his  righteousness  and  faithfulness,  as  they  are 
engaged  to  make  good  the  purposes  of  redemption,  in  the 
Father  and  the  Son.  Jehovah's  righteousness,  and  Jehovah's 
faithfulness,  are  blessed  securities  for  this  purpose;  for  so 
saith  the  Holy  Ghost.  God  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive  us 
our  sins.  Wherefore  1  Because  Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law 
for  righteousness,  to  every  one  that  believeth.  And  do  not 
overlook  the  striking  figure  of  the  girdle  which  is  chosen  to 
represent  it  by:  for  as  a  man  binds  on  the  girdle  round  his 
loins  as  a  strengthener,  so  Jehovah  takes  to  himself  the  righ' 
teousness  of  his  dear  Son.  Let  him  take  hold,  saith  Jehovah, 
of  my  strength,  to  make  peace  with  me,  and  he  shall  make 
peace  with  me,  Isaiah  xxvii.  5.  This  is  the  girdle  of  Jeho- 
25 


290  MORNING    PORTION. 

vah,  which  compasseth  him  about,  and  cleaveth  to  him  all 
around.  So  that  his  people,  whether  they  are  behind  or  be- 
fore, may  lay  hold  of  the  girdle  of  his  perfections,  and  hang 
upon  them,  and  depend  upon  them :  and  even  when  God's 
providences  seem  to  frown,  or  the  Lord  seemeth  to  have 
turned  his  back  upon  them.  Oh  for  grace  and  faith  both  in 
Jehovah's  covenant  faithfulness,  and  Christ's  righteousness, 
thus  to  trust,  and  thus  to  stay  ;  for  he  is  faithful  that  hath  pro- 
mised. 


22. — Come,  buy  wine  and  milk,  without  money,  and  without  price. — 
Isaiah  Iv.  1. 

Surely  no  man  can  plead  poverty  as  an  excuse  for  not 
buying,  when  the  things  sold  are  not  only  without  money, 
but  without  even  the  proposals  for  money :  not  only  without 
ready  mone}'-,  but  without  any  money.  Here  is  not  even  a 
price  given.  My  soul,  remember  this.  The  poorer  the 
wretch,  the  more  welcome  to  this  market.  But  what  are 
the  tilings  sold  ?  Both  wine  and  milk.  A  blessed  variety 
in  the  gospel  feast — wine  to  cheer,  and  milk  to  nourish. 
Yes,  blessed  Jesus,  thy  love  is  better  than  wine  ;  and  thy  sal- 
vation more  healing  than  milk.  Besides,  it  comes  free,  it 
comes  pure,  it  comes  in  plentjr.  And  it  far,  very  far,  exceeds 
the  strongest  wine,  and  the  richest  milk.  For  though  wine 
may  remove  a  temporary  heaviness,  yet  it  was  never  known 
to  raise  the  dead.  But  thy  love,  blessed  Jesus!  hath  raised, 
and  will  keep  alive  for  ever,  sinners  dead  in  trespasses  and 
sins,  and  preserve  the  languishing  graces  of  thy  saints. 
Come  then,  my  soul,  obey  the  gospel-invitation  this  day,  and 
every  day  :  come,  buy  these  precious  things  without  money, 
and  without  price.  Come,  ye  poor,  needy,  perishing  sinners  ; 
come,  every  one  of  you,  and  buy — there  is  enough  in  Jesus 
for  us  all.  And  depend  upon  it,  not  one  of  you  will  be  sent 
empty  away,  if  you  come  empty  to  be  filled,  and  hungering 
to  be  satisfied.  This  is  the  only  mark  and  evidence  of  every 
real  purchaser.  If  Jesus,  with  all  his  blessings,  be  welcome 
to  your  heart,  you  are  welcome  to  take  of  his  free  salvation. 
Lord !  I  am  come  this  day,  and  every  day.  Now  let  me 
hear  thy  voice :  "  Eat,  O  friends !  drink  ;  yea,  drink  abun- 
dantly, O  beloved." 


NOVEMBER.  291 

23. — If  the  Lord  were  pleased  to  kill  us,  he  would  not  have  received  a 
bunit-ofFering  and  a  meat-offering  at  our  hands  ;  neither  would  he 
have  shewed  us  all  these  things. — Judges  xiii.  23. 

Precious  faith  this  of  the  wife  of  Manoah,  and  sound  and 
conclusive  reasoning.  My  soul,  hath  the  Father,  who  gave 
thee  Jesus  for  a  Saviour,  accepted  thee  in  Jesus?  Hath  the 
Father,  who  sent  his  dear  Son  to  be  the  Saviour  of  the  world, 
accepted  Jesus  for  thy  Saviour?  Hath  the  Holy  Ghost 
showed  thee  the  glorious  things  of  redemption  in  his  blood, 
the  forgiveness  of  sins  according  to  the  riches  of  his  grace  ? 
And  hath  he  given  thee  to  believe  in  the  record,  that  God 
hath  given  eternal  life,  and  that  this  life  is  in  his  Son  ?  Oh ! 
then  say,  with  the  wife  of  Manoah,  Surely  the  Lord  would 
never  have  done  all  this,  neither  would  he  have  showed  me 
all  these  things,  had  he  not  intended  my  salvation  !  Treasure 
up,  then,  these  past  tokens  of  favour:  consider  present  evi- 
dences of  mercy,  and  say.  Is  not  Jesus  still  "precious  ?  Are 
not  my  desires  after  him?  And  small  as  you  sometimes 
think  your  hope,  yet  would  you,  my  soul,  relinquish  it  for  a 
thousand  w^orlds  ?  Oh,  then,  my  soul,  hang  upon  Jesus, 
cleave  to  Jesus,  hold  fast  on  Jesus.  Never  would  the  Lord 
have  showed  me  the  beauty,  glory,  fulness,  suitableness,  and 
all-sufficiency  of  Jesus,  nor  enabled  my  soul  to  hold  up  Jesus 
in  the  arms  of  my  faith  for  acceptance,  if  the  Lord  had  been 
pleased  to  kill  me. 

24. — Behold  I  send  an  angel  before  thee,  to  keep  thee  in  the  way,  and 
to  bring  thee  into  the  place  which  I  have  prepared.  Beware  of  him, 
and  obey  his  voice,  for  my  name  is  in  him. — Exod.  xxiii.  20,  21. 

Who  can  this  be,  my  soul,  but  Jesus  ?  He,  and  he  only, 
who  is  the  whole  of  the  covenant,  is  also  the  Messenger,  and 
the  Angel  of  the  covenant.  Jehovah  hath  never  put  his 
name  in  any  other  ;  neither  given  his  honour  to  any  other. 
But  in  Jesus  he  is  eternally  w^ell  pleased,  and  hath  given  all 
things  into  his  hand.  Pause  then,  my  soul,  and  contemplate 
this  holy,  this  blessed,  this  only  begotten  of  the  Father,  full 
of  grace  and  truth.  I  see  in  Him  all  the  glory,  the  sove- 
reigntv,  the  wisdom,  grace,  and  goodness,  of  the  Father. 
And  he  is  Jehovah's  salvation  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  And 
wilt  thou  then,  my  gracious  God  and  Father,  send  Jesus  be- 
fore me  in  all  my  way,  to  keep  me,  to  guide  me,  and  to  bring 
me  in,  to  behold  thy  glory  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  to 
dwell  with  thee  for  ever  ?     Oh !  Lord  Jesus !  I  would  desire 


292  MORNING    PORTION, 

grace  so  to  beware  of  thee,  so  to  love  thee,  so  to  obey  thee,  so 
to  adore  thee,  so  to  make  thee  my  all  in  all,  my  life,  my  love, 
my  joy,  my  present,  my  everlasting  hope  and  portion,  that  in 
life,  and  death,  in  time,  and  to  all  eternity,  Jesus  may  be  my 
glory  and  salvation  for  ever  and  ever. 


25. — Once  have  I  sworn  by  my  holiness,  that  I  will  not  lie  unto  David. — 
Psalm  Ixxxix.  35. 

Wonderful  condescension.  Was  it  not  enough  that  Je- 
hovah gave  his  Son  to  poor  sinners ;  gave  his  word,  his  pro- 
mise, that  all  that  believe  in  him  should  not  perish,  but  have 
everlasting  life?  But  as  if  consulting  the  weakness  of  our 
faith,  confirmed  it  with  an  oath :  pledged  his  holiness  to  Jesus, 
and  to  poor  sinners  in  Jesus,  for  the  sure  accomplishment  of 
all  covenant  engagements,  in  the  blood  and  righteousness  of 
his  dear  Son.  Oh,  my  soul,  never,  never  more  call  in  ques- 
tion the  truth  of  thy  gracious  God.  Say  with  Job,  "  Though 
he  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in  him."  What  are  afflictions, 
trials,  darkness,  poverty?  These  are  in  me,  and  about  me, 
but  no  obstructions  to  the  efficacy  of  Jesus'  righteousness,  or 
the  Father's  faithfulness.  Read  under  every  one  of  them  the 
charter  of  rich  sovereign  grace ;  hear  what  God  hath  said, 
what  God  hath  sworn :  and  believe  the  record  that  God  hath 
given  of  his  dear  Son : — Men  shall  be  blessed  in  him.  Jesus 
shall  see  the  travail  of  his  soul,  and  be  satisfied.  Here  then 
rest,  my  soul !  God  hath  sworn  once  by  his  holiness :  Jesus 
hath  once  died,  the  Just  for  the  unjust,  to  bring  sinners  unto 
God.  Return  to  thy  rest;  the  Lord  hath  deah,  my  soul, 
bountifully  by  thee. 

26. — And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  cA^ery  thing  that  liveth,  which 
moveth  whithersoever  the  rivers  shall  come,  shall  live. — Ezek.  xlvii.  9. 

Listen  to  this  promise,  my  soul,  and  make  it  the  subject 
of  this  morning's  meditation,  of  this  day,  and  every  day. 
See  how  rich,  how  extensive,  it  is  in  the  life-promising  power. 
And  the  river  of  life  in  Jesus  possesseth  all  these  blessed 
effects.  To  every  poor  sinner,  brought  into  this  rich  stream, 
it  gives  life,  spiritual  life,  eternal  life.  And  who  shall  de- 
scribe the  length,  the  breadth,  the  heights,  the  depths,  of  it? 
Not  only  extending  over  all  the  continent  of  the  earth,  but 
from  the  borders  of  hell  to  heaven,  and  from  one  eternity  to 
another.     And  its  sovereignty  is  such,  that  it  bears  down  all 


NOVEMBER.  2^3 

before  it — washing  away  sin,  and  guilt,  and  misery ;  diffusing 
streams  of  life,  and  grace,  and  mercy  ;  opening  sources  of 
joy,  and  peace,  and  happiness,  for  ever  and  for  ever.  Oh, 
precious,  precious  Jesus !  make  glad  my  soul  with  the  streams 
of  this  river :  be  thou  the  fountain  of  all  my  happiness,  and 
let  all  my  springs  be  in  thee. 


27. — For  lo,  I  will  command,  and  I  will  sift  the  house  of  Israel  among 
all  nations,  like  as  com  is  sifted  in  a  sieve,  yet  shall  not  the  least 
gram  fall  to  the  earth. — Amos  ix.  9. 

Blessed  promise  to  my  poor  soul,  sifted  and  blown  about 
by  temptation !  Look  then  to  Jesus  with  it,  and  plead  it 
under  every  new  sifting  time.  Corn  must  be  sifted,  for  it  is 
much  covered  at  times  with  tares  and  chaff  And  so  must 
the  seed  of  Jesus,  that  the  precious  may  be  known  and  sepa- 
rated ;  for  what  is  the  chaff  to  the  wheat,  saith  the  Lord  ? 
Oh,  Lord!  if  it  please  thee,  for  thou  knowest  the  necessity 
of  it,  sift  me,  try  me,  separate  me,  not  only  from  the  ungodly, 
with  whom  I  am  constrained  to  dwell,  but  from  myself,  from 
my  own  trifling,  vain  conversation,  from  the  corruption  of 
the  indwelling  sin  in  my  fallen  nature,  from  the  vain  thoughts 
which  lodge  within  me.  Yes,  precious  Jesus !  sift  all  and 
every  thing  which  is  unsuitable  to  thee,  and  let  the  whole 
fell  through  the  sieve,  that  thou  alone  mayest  remain  with 
me:  for  sure  I  know  my  God  hath  said,  though  his  Israel 
be  sifted,  yet  not  the  least  grain  of  the  true  wheat  shall  be 
lost. 


28. — For,  when  we  were  yet  without  strength,  in  due  time  Christ  died 
for  the  ungodly. — Romans  v.  6. 

My  soul !  fold  up  this  sweet  and  precious  scripture,  and 
carry  it  about  with  thee  in  thy  bosom,  and  in  thine  heart,  that 
it  may  help  thee  on  at  any  time,  and  at  all  times,  when  thy 
strength  seems  gone,  and  there  is  no  power  left.  Was  it  not 
when  the  whole  nature  of  man  was  without  strength,  that 
Christ  was  given  of  the  Father  ?  And  was  it  not  equally  so, 
when  Christ  came  to  seek  and  save  that  which  was  lost  ? 
And  was  it  not  in  due  time,  when  Christ  died  for  the  un- 
godly? due  time  in  his  resurrection,  due  tim.e  in  his  ascen- 
sion, when  he  ascended  up  on  high,  led  captivity  captive,  and 
received  gifts  for  men,  yea,  even  for  the  rebellious,  that  the 
Lord  God  might  dwell  among  them?     Go  further  yet,  my 

25* 


294  MORNING    PORTION. 

soul,  as  it  concerns  thyself — Was  it  not  due  time  indeed, 
when  Jesus  passed  by,  and  saw  thee  in  thy  loathsome  state 
of  sin,  cast  out  to  perish,  and  when- no  eye  pitied  thee,  that 
then  his  eye  compassioned  thee,  and  bid  thee  live  ?  Who 
more  ungodly  than  thee  ?  Who  more  weak  ?  Who  more 
undeserving  ?  Did  Jesus  then  look  upon  thee,  call  thee, 
strengthen  thee  when  thou  wast  without  strength,  and  hath 
helped  thee  to  this  hour  ?  Oh,  then,  trust  him  now,  trust  him 
for  ever.  His  strength  is  made  perfect  in  thy  weakness. 
And  depend  upon  it,  when  thou  art  most  weak  in  thyself, 
then  is  the  hour  to  be  most  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  in  the 
power  of  his  might.  He  that  in  due  time  died  for  the  un- 
godly, will  be  thy  strength  in  the  time  of  need. 

29. — Until  the  day  break,  and  the  shadows  flee  away,  I  will  get  me  to  the 
mountains  of  myrrh,  and  to  the  hills  of  frankincense. — Song  iv.  6. 

Methinks  I  would  have  every  poor  sinner,  until  the  day- 
dawn  of  awakening  grace  breaks  in  upon  his  soul,  get  away 
to  the  ordinances  of  God  in  the  mountain  of  the  Lord's 
house  :  there  he  should  live,  there  wait,  until  the  Lord  speaks 
to  his  soul.  And  methinks  I  would  have  every  poor  sinner 
that  is  awakened,  until  the  day  of  glory  breaks  in  with  an 
everlasting  hght  upon  him,  get  away  to  the  gospel  mountain, 
where  the  odour  of  Jesus'  incense,  and  the  savour  of  his 
blood  and  righteousness,  become  sweeter  than  myrrh,  and 
more  fragrant  than  frankincense.  Here,  Lord,  cause  me  to 
get  away  from  all  surrounding  impediments,  and  to  be  con- 
stantly found  waiting,  that  my  soul  may  drink  in  the  fresh, 
reviving,  renewing  streams,  until  Jesus  himself,  the  Morning 
Star,  breaks  in  upon  my  soul,  to  lead  me  home  to  his  ever- 
lasting glory,  in  his  bosom  for  ever. 

30. — It  is  high  time  to  awake  out  of  sleep  ;  for  now  is  our  salvation 
nearer  than  when  we  believed. — Romans  xiii.  11. 

Solemn  consideration  !  What  time  is  it  with  thee,  my 
soul?  Let  me  ask  with  the  prophet,  Watchman,  what  of  the 
night?  The  morning  Cometh,  and  also  the  night.  Perhaps 
there  may  be  but  a  step  between  me  and  death.  Am  I  really 
awakened  from  the  sleep  of  carnal  security  ?  Am  I  alive 
from  spiritual  death  ?  Am  I  dead  to  the  w(^ld,  but  alive 
unto  God  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord?  Oh,  Lord  Jesus  ! 
impress  these  solemn  inquiries  upon  my  soul  yet  more  and 


DECEMBER.  295 

more:  since  everlasting  happiness,  or  everlasting  misery, 
hangs  upon  the  decision.  My  beating  pulse  is  hastening  to 
fulfil  the  appointed  number.  Even  while  I  think  of  these 
things  the  account  is  increased.  Every  fleeting  breath  is  one 
the  less  to  take.  Lord,  make  me  wise  to  remember  my 
latter  end. 


DECEMBER 


1. — Praise  waiteth  for  thee,  O  God,  in  Zion. — Psalm  Iv.  1. 

Is  this  the  language  of  my  heart  ?  Am  I  indeed  waiting 
until  that  Jesus  be  ready  to  receive  my  poor  praise  ?  Hath 
God  the  Holy  Ghost  prepared  my  heart?  Oh,  then,  hasten 
to  him,  my  soul,  with  thy  morning  offerings,  poor  as  they 
are  ;  for  sure  I  am,  Jesus  is  waiting  to  be  gracious.  God  will  ac- 
cept both  thee  and  thy  offering  in  him  the  Beloved  !  Go  forth 
to  meet  him  as  early  and  as  often  as  thine  heart  can  wish: 
depend  upon  it,  thy  Redeemer  will  be  beforehand  with  thee, 
and  is  waiting  thy  coming.  Neither  thy  praise  nor  thy 
prayer  can  outrun  his  love ;  for  both  are  the  blessed  effects 
of  his  grace,  and  of  his  own  quickenings.  Precious  Jesus! 
grant  me  to  come  as  often  as  I  need  thee.  And,  Lord  !  if 
thou  wilt  grant  me  this  blessing,  I  shall  never  be  from  thee, 
for  I  need  thee  every  moment. 

2. — It  is  written  in  the  prophets,  And  they  shall  be  all  taught  of  God. 
Everyone  therefore  that  hath  heard,  and  hath  learned  of  the  Father, 
Cometh  unto  me. — John  vi.  45. 

Mark,  my  soul,  these  precious  words  of  thy  .Tesus.  It  was 
one  of  the  Old  Testament  promises,  that  all  God's  children 
should  be  taught  of  him.  And  as  this  condescension  of  God, 
in  teaching,  implied  the  Father,  so  the  blessed  consequence 
and  effect  of  it  should  be,  that  every  one  thus  taught  proved 
his  being  a  child,  and  inclined  his  heart  to  come  to  God  in 
Christ  as  a  Father.  My  soul,  art  thou  come  1  Art  thou 
looking  to,  leaning  upon,  trusting  in,  walking  with,  and  seek- 
ing for,  Jesus  ?  Is  he  the  Lord  thy  Righteousnes.s,  thine  only 


296  MORNING   PORTION, 

righteousness  :  thine  only  hope,  thine  only  confidence  ?  Dost 
thou,  like  the  Apostle,  count  ail  things  else  but  dung  and 
dross  to  win  Christ,  and  to  be  found  in  him  ?  Courage  then, 
my  soul !  These  are  blessed  tokens  of  thine  adoption-cha- 
racter. None  but  God  the  Father,  by  his  Holy  Spirit,  could 
have  taught  thee  these  things.  None  but  He  that  revealed 
his  Son  in  the  heart  of  the  Apostle,  could  have  been  thy 
Teacher.  Thou  hast  both  heard  and  learned  of  the  Father  ; 
and,  in  proof  thereof,  thou  art  come  to  Christ  for  life  and  sal- 
vation. Fold  up,  then,  this  precious  scripture  in  thy  bosom 
for  thy  daily  use,  and  examine  thine  interest  in  Christ  con- 
tinually, by  a  mark  so  sure  and  infallible.  And  remember 
what  the  Lord  Jesus  hath  said,  as  a  collateral  testimony  to 
the  same  blessed  truth  :  all  that  the  Father  giveth  me  (saith 
Jesus)  shall  come  to  me :  and  him  that  cometh  I  will  in  no 
wise  cast  out. 


3. — ^Whether  our  brethren  be  inquired  of,  they  are  the  messengers  of  the 
churches,  and  the  glory  of  Christ. — 2  Cor.  viii.  28 

What  a  blessed  account  is  here  given  of  the  children  of 
God  to  all  inquiries  concerning  them.  See,  my  soul !  whe- 
ther thy  experience  corresponds  to  it,  and  mark  their  charac- 
ter. They  are  not  only  brethren  to  one  another,  but  to 
Christ  also :  for  we  are  told  that  he  is  not  ashamed  to  call 
them  brethren.  Precious  condescending  Saviour !  More- 
over, they  are  the  messengers  of  the  churches.  What  is 
that?  A  messenger,  in  scripture,  is  called  also  an  Angel. 
And  if  the  brethren  of  Jesus  do  know,  and  can  speak  of  him 
as  his  people  should,  then  are  they  like  angels  come  down 
from  the  court  of  heaven,  to  relate  what  they  have  seen  and 
know  of  the  king  in  his  beauty,  and  their  hearts  glow  with 
a  warmth  of  earnestness  to  proclaim  his  glory,  and  his  love 
to  poor  sinful  creatures  here  below.  Neither  is  this  all. 
For  they  are  the  glory  of  Christ.  Mark  this,  my  soul,  and 
dwell  with  rapture  upon  it.  A  true  believer  in  Jesus  is  the 
glory  of  Jesus.  Not  only  because  he  gives  glory  to  the  Re- 
deemer for  his  grace,  but  because  Jesus  derives  glory  from 
his  redemption.  Not  only  because  the  poor  sinner  hath  ever- 
lasting happiness  from  Jesus ;  but  Jesus  hath  everlasting 
glory  from  that  poor  sinner's  salvation.  Never  lose  sight  of 
this,  my  soul,  when  thou  goest  to  Jesus.  Indeed,  indeed, 
Jesus  is  glorified  in  receiving  thee,  in  pardoning  thee,  in 
blessing  thee,  in   giving  to  thee  of  his  fulness.     And  the 


DECEMBER.  297 

Father  is  glorified  in  this  great  salvation  by  his  Son.  Oh ! 
what  encouragement  is  this  to  faith  ;  what  inducement  to 
come  to  Jesus.  Lord!  how  ought  I  to  blush  when  I  think 
how  little  glory  I  give  to  thee  in  not  seeing  that  thy  church 
and  thy  people  are  thy  glory,  in  being  saved  and  redeemed 
by  thee  I 

4. — Come,  see  the  place  where  the  Lord  lay.^Matt.  xxviii.  6. 

Lord!  I  would  desire  grace  to  accept  the  call,  for  it  is  al- 
ways profitable  to  have  faith  in  lively  exercise.  I  would 
pray  that  my  meditation  might  frequently  take  wing,  and 
view  the  memorable  sepulchre  of  my  Lord.  Did  Jesus  once 
lay  in  the  grave  ?  Surely  death  never  had  such  a  prisoner 
before !  But  did  Jesus  lay  so  low  for  me  ?  Am  I  shortly  to 
lay  there?  Sweet  consoling  thought!  The  grave  is  now 
softened,  and  the  chambers  of  death  are  perfumed  with  the 
fragrancy  contracted  from  his  holy  incorruptible  body. — But 
is  there  not  another  place  where  the  Lord  lay?  And  doth 
not  the  Angel  invite  his  people  to  see  him  there  are  also? 
Yes  !  Jesus  lay  in  the  bosom  of  the  Father  from  all  eternity. 
And  doth  he  not  lay  there  now,  and  will  he  not  through  all 
eternity?  But  can  I  see  him  there?  Yes.  For  if  by  faith 
I  behold  Jesus  as  the  Christ,  the  sent,  the  sealed  of  the  Fa- 
ther ;  in  seeing  him,  I  see  the  Father  also.  He  saith  this 
himself,  John  xiv.  9.  And  again,  John  xiv.  20.  At  that 
day  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  in  my  Father,  and  you  in  me, 
and  I  in  you.  Blessed  assurance.  Jesus  is  one  with  the 
Father :  and  all  his  people  one  with  him.  And  as  he  is  in 
the  bosom  of  the  Father,  so  are  they  in  his,  and  there  shall 
dwell  for  ever  and  ever.     Hallelujah.     Amen. 

5. — It  pleased  the  Father  to  bruise  him :  he  hath  put  him  to  grief. — 
Isaiah  liii.  10. 

The  depths  of  wisdom  were  explored  to  furnish  redemption, 
and  to  find  a  Person  competent  to  accomplish  it.  And  when 
found,  the  depths  of  love  were  broken  up,  to  make  it  com- 
plete. My  soul,  read  ov^er  the  mysterious  volume  which  the 
Lord  hath  in  part  opened  before  thee.  It  cost  the  Father  his 
thoughts  from  all  eternity,  to  appoint  a  plan  by  which,  con- 
sistent with  his  holiness  and  his  justice,  thou  mightest  be 
saved.  It  cost  the  Father  his  Son,  his  dear  Son,  his  only 
Son,  before  that  thou  couldest  be  redeemed.     Jesus  must  die 


298  MORNING   Por.TlON. 

ere  thou  canst  live.  Pause  over  the  subject  as  it  is  here  ex- 
pressed. It  pleased  the  Father  to  bruise  him.  Jesus,  who 
was  in  himself  holy,  harmless,  undefiled,  separate  from  sin- 
ners, and  made  higher  than  the  heavens  ;  he,  who  knew  no 
sin,  must  be  made  sin  ;  he,  w^ho  never  merited  wrath,  must 
be  made  a  curse.  Read  on  ;  Jesus  must  die — And  by  whom  ? 
Not  by  Jews,  nor  Gentiles  only :  not  simply  by  high-priests, 
and  governors  among  men :  but  by  God  the  Father.  He 
must  bruise  him,  and  put  him  to  grief.  For  though  Jesus 
was  taken,  and  by  wicked  hands  crucified  and  slain,  yet  all 
this,  we  are  told,  was  by  the  determinate  counsel  and  fore- 
knowledge of  God.  And  is  there  yet  another  chapter  of 
w'onder  in  this  mysterious  volume  1  Yes  !  what  can  it  be  ? 
Namely,  that  all  this  was  for  sinners,  for  rebels,  for  enemies ; 
nay,  my  soul,  for  thee !  Wonder,  O  heavens,  and  be  aston- 
ished, O  earth  !  Had  our  whole  nature  been  bruised  to  all 
eternity  in  the  mortar  of  divine  wrath,  for  the  sin  of  our  na- 
ture, what  would  all  this  have  been  to  the  sufferings,  agonies, 
and  death,  of  the  Lamb  of  God  ?  And  didst  thou  die  for 
me,  oh  thou  unequalled  pattern  of  love  and  mercy  ;  and  by 
thy  stripes  is  my  soul  healed  !     Precious  Jesus  ! 

6. — If  ye  ask  any  thing  in  my  name,  I  will  do  it. — John  xiv.  14. 

Is  it  SO,  blessed  Jesus,  that  if  I  go  to  the  Father  in  thy 
precious  name,  my  petitions  shall  be  certainly  heard,  and  an- 
swered 1  Lo,  then  I  come:  I  feel  my  faith  and  confidence 
imboldened  in  this  gracious  assurance.  And  as  thou  know- 
est.  Lord,  this  day,  what  is  most  suited  for  me,  let  thy  wis- 
dom choose,  and  let  thy  love  bestow,  that  very  grace  and 
mercy,  be  it  what  it  may.  And  let  a  throne  of  grace  witness 
for  me,  that  I  seek  it  w'hoUy  on  Christ's  account.  I  consider 
it  as  good  as  given,  from  the  high  love  my  God  and  Father 
bears  towards  his  dear  Son,  as  my  Surety  and  Saviour.  And 
although  in  the  moment  that  I  ask  with  this  boldness  of  faith, 
I  see  and  know  in  myself,  that  I  have  nothing  to  recommend 
me  to  thy  favour,  as  in  the  least  meriting  that  favour,  but 
much,  very  much,  to  make  me  an  object  in  meriting  thy  dis- 
pleasure :  yet  looking  up  in  Jesus,  depending  upon  his  blood 
and  righteousness,  and  wholly  asking  in  his  name,  and  for 
his  righteousness'  sake  only,  I  am  encouraged  to  hope  th.at  I 
shall  not  ask  in  vain.  Oh,  then,  Lord  !  hear  for  Jesus'  sake, 
and  let  my  petition  and  prayer  be  answered,  that  the  Father 
may  be  glorified  in  his  Son. 


DECEIVEBER.  299 

7. — And  we  know  and  have  believed  the  love  that  God  hath  to  us. 

1  John  iv.  16. 

Who  hath  known  and  believed  in  terms  equal  to  the  great- 
ness of  the  mercy  itself,  the  love  of  God  to  the  poor  sinner  ? 
God's  love  must  be  an  infinite  love,  and  consequently  the  dis- 
play of  it  must  be  infinite  also.  God,  we  are  told,  commend- 
eth  his  love  to  us,  in  that  while  we  were  yet  sinners,  Christ 
died  for  ns.  Had  God  loved  and  delighted  in  saints  that 
loved  him,  this  would  have  been  love.  Had  God  taken  the 
holy  angels  into  a  nearer  acquaintance  with  him,  this  would 
have  been  love.  But  when  he  raised  beggars  from  theduno-- 
hill,  and  took  rebels  from  the  prison  to  sit  upon  his  throne; 
and  at  a  time  when  his  justice  would  have  been  magnified  in 
their  destruction,  to  prefer  sinners,  haters  of  God,  and  des- 
pisers  of  his  grace  ;  to  bring  them  into  the  closet  and  nearest 
connexion  with  him,  in  the  Person  of  his  dear  Son,  and  all 
this  by  such  a  wonderful  plan  of  mercy  as  the  incarnation 
and  death  of  Jesus — who  hath  ever  calculated  the  extent  of 
such  grace  ?  Who  hath  thoroughly  known,  or  considered, 
or  believed,  in  any  degree  proportioned  to  the  unspeakable- 
ness  of  the  salvation,  the  love  that  God  hath  to  us  ?  Oh ! 
Lord  !  add  one  blessing  more.  Cause  my  cold  heart  to  grow 
warm  in  the  contemplation  of  it :  and  let  it  be  my  happiness 
to  be  daily  studying  the  breadth,  and  length,  and  depth  and 
height,  and  to  know  the  love  of  God,  which  passeth  know- 
ledge, that  I  may  be  filled  with  all  the  fulness  of  God. 

8. — Gad,  a  troop  shall  overcome  him  :  but  he  shall  overcome  at  the  last. — 
Gen.  xlix.  19. 

Is  there  nothing,  my  soul,  in  this  sweet  promise,  that  suits 
thy  case  and  circumstances?  Was  not  Gad  one  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  ?  And  are  not  all  the  seed  of  Israel  interested 
in  the  promises  ?  Was  the  tribe  of  Gad  for  a  time  brought 
down,  and  brought  under,  by  a  troop  of  foes?  And  are  not 
all  the  seed  of  Israel  oppressed  and  brought  into  subjection? 
Was  not  that  glorious  Israelite,  the  great  Captain  of  our  sal- 
vation, made  perfect  through  sufferings  ?  Think,  my  soul, 
what  troops  of  hell  assaulted  him  !  But  was  the  issue  of  the 
battle  with  him  doubtful?  Neither  is  it  now.  In  his  blood 
and  righteousness,  all  the  seed  of  Israel  shall  be  justified  and 
overcome  by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  What  then,  though 
there  be  troops  of  lusts  within,  and  legions  of  foes  without: 
troops  from  earth,  and  troops  from  Hell,  may,  and  will,  as- 


300  MORNING    PORTION. 

sault  thee !  but  look  unto  Jesus,  It  is  said  of  his  people  of 
old,  that  they  had  an  eye  unto  him,  and  were  enhghtened, 
and  their  faces  were  not  ashamed.  So  now,  Jesus  undertakes 
for  thee,  and  for  thy  faith.  He  saith,  I  will  be  an  enemy  to 
thine  enemies,  and  an  adversary  to  thine  adversaries.  God 
the  Father  is  looking  on:  angels  are  beholding:  all  heaven 
is  interested.  Nay,  hadst  thou  but  eyes  to  see,  thou  wouldest 
behold,  like  the  Prophet's  servant,  mountains  around  thee, 
full  of  horses  and  chariots  of  fire,  all  engaged  for  thy  defence. 
Shout,  then,  for  the  battle  is  already  obtained  by  Jesus  for  all 
his  people.  Though  a  troop  may  overcome  the  Gadites  of  the 
Lord,  yet  shall  they  overcome  at  the  last.  Thanks  be  to  God 
who  giveth  us  the  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

9. — For  he  said,  Surely  they  are  my  people,  children  that  will  not  lie  : 
so  he  was  their  Saviour. — Isaiah  Ixiii.  8. 

Oh  !  what  a  tenderness  of  expression  is  contained  in  these 
words  !  Jesus  not  only  takes  his  people  into  relationship 
with  him,  but  undertakes  for  their  faithfulness.  In  the  birth 
of  God's  everlasting  purpose,  this  was  done  from  everlasting: 
so  that  in  one  and  the  same  moment,  we  are  his  people,  his 
children,  his  brethren,  his  wife,  his  redeemed,  his  fair  one, 
made  comely  in  his  comeliness,  and  in  his  blood  cleansed, 
and  in  his  righteousness  justified,  before  God.  And  observe, 
my  soul,  the  grounds  of  this  relationship:  Surely,  he  saith, 
they  are  my  people.  Not  only  as  God's  workmanship  and 
property,  but  as  his  purchase.  Not  only  in  first  giving  them 
being,  but  in  giving  them  new  being  in  Christ  Jesus.  The 
Lord  hath  taken  them  into  covenant  with  him  in  Christ,  and 
granted  them  a  charter  of  grace  and  salvation  in  Jesus.  Sweet 
and  precious  thought !  God  the  Father,  whose  right  they 
are  by  creation,  hath  given  them  to  his  Son.  And  Jesus  hath 
made  them  his,  both  by  his  own  purchase,  and  the  conquests 
of  his  grace  :  therefore  he  hath  an  interest  in  them,  and  in 
all  that  concerns  them.  Surely,  saith  Jesus,  they  are  my 
people,  my  jewels,  my  treasure,  my  hidden  ones.  And  ob- 
serve further,  how  he  speaks  for  them  as  well  as  of  them  : 
They  will  not  lie.  How  is  this?  Why,  they  are  children 
of  the  covenant.  And  because  he  hath  undertaken  for  them, 
therefore  he  was  their  Saviour  !  Oh !  the  preciousness  of 
such  a  Saviour,  to  every  circumstance,  to  every  state,  in  every 
way,  and  upon  every  occasion  in  life,  in  death,  in  time,  and 
to  all  eternity.      Jesus  !  thou  art  indeed  a  Saviour  1  thou  art 


DECEMBER.  30 1 

truly  called  Jesus,  for  thou  hast  saved,  and  thou  wilt  save, 
thy  people  from  their  sins. 

10. — But  there  the  glorious  Lord  will  be  unto  us  a  place  of  broad  rivers 
and  streams  ;  wherein  shall  go  no  galley  with  oars,  neither  shall  gal- 
lant ship  pass  thereby. — Isaiah  xxxiii.  21. 

See,  my  soul !  how  thy  God  condescends  to  represent  him- 
self'to  thee  as  thy  God,  under  various  similitudes,  so  as  to 
strengthen  thy  faith  and  thy  confidence  in  him.  He  that  is 
thy  gracious  Lord,  is  also  thy  glorious  Lord  ;  for  he  is  both 
a  Sun  and  a  Shield:  and  he  that  gives  grace,  will  give  glory; 
one  is  the  earnest  of  the  other.  Well,  then,  this  glorious 
Lord  will  be  there.  Where?  Why  in  Jesus,  in  thy  Jesus, 
God  in  covenant  with  him :  he  will  be  unto  thee  a  place  of 
broad  rivers  and  streams.  What  is  that  ?  Why,  as  Jerusa- 
lem had  no  navigable  rivers  or  seas,  to  defend  her  from  the 
approach  of  enemies  all  around,  so  God's  people  are  unpro- 
tected by  nature,  or  by  art,  and  lie  open  to  their  foes.  But 
what  they  want  in  nature,  shall  be  abundantly  made  up  to 
them  in  grace.  And  as  they  have  no  art  nor  contrivance  in 
themselves.  God's  wisdom  and  love  will  provide  true  counsel 
for  them.  Since  they  have  no  sea  for  their  frontier,  God  in 
covenant  love  W\\\  himself  be  their  sea,  their  ocean,  their  bul- 
wark. And  what  galley  or  ship  shall  pass  God  to  attack  his 
people?  Surely  none  can.  And  observe,  my  soul,  as  God 
himself  will  be  rivers,  and  broad  rivers  too,  to  defend,  so  will 
he  be  streams  to  provide,  and  full  streams  to  provide  plenti- 
fully all  possible  blessings.  Hallelujah.  Shout,  my  soul,  as 
the  church  of  old,  and  say,  A  Fountain  of  gardens,  a  W^cll 
of  living  waters,  and  Streams  from  Lebanon,  is  my  Beloved! 


11. — And  he  shall  sit  as  a  refiner  and  purifier  of  silver.  And  he  shall 
purify  the  sons  of  Levi,  and  purge  them  as  gold  and  silver,  that  they 
may  offer  unto  the  Lord  an  offering  in  righteousness. — Malachi  'in.  3. 

My  soul,  contemplate  this  gracious  office  of  thy  Jesus,  and 
then  see,  whether  he  hath  as  graciously  wrought  it  on  thee. 
Jesus  found  our  whole  nature,  when  he  came  to  save  it, 
^vanting  refining  and  purifying  indeed.  By  the  operation  of 
his  holy  u'ord,  and  by  the  influences  of  his  blessed  Spirit,  he 
brings  the  souls  of  his  people  into  the  furnace  of  purification. 
By  the  fire  of  troubles,  of  afdictions,  of  persecutions,  he  melts 
down  their  stubborn  nature  there.     By  the  Spiiit  of  judgment, 

26 


302  MORNING   PORTION. 

and  by  the  Spirit  of  burning,  he  purg-eth  their  dross,  taketh 
away  their  tin,  and  forms  all  his  people  into  vessels  of  mercy 
and  sanctification,  that  he  may  at  length  present  them  unto 
himself,  a  glorious  church,  not  having  spot  or  wrinkle,  or 
any  such  thing  ;  but  that  they  may  be  without  blame  before 
him  in  love.  And  what  endears  him  to  his  people  under  this 
blessed  character  as  their  Refiner,  is  this,  that  all  the  while 
the  process  is  going  on,  Jesus  sits  by,  watches  over  them, 
tempers  the  fire  in  exact  proportion  to  what  it  should  be,  and 
suffers  not  the  enemy  to  fan  it  a  jot  more  than  his  love  and 
wisdom  see  it  fit  to  be.  Is  this  the  case,  my  soul,  with  thee? 
Are  all  the  fierj^  trials  thou  hast  gone  through  regulated,  kept 
under,  and  blessed,  by  thy  Jesus,  to  so  much  good  ?  Oh  ! 
my  foolish  heart !  how  have  I  repined  in  my  affliction,  be- 
cause I  saw  not  Jesus'  hand  in  the  appointment',  nor  discerned 
his  love  carrying  me  through  it.  Blessed  Refiner !  hence- 
forth give  me  to  see  thee.  And  do  thou  sit  in  this  most  need- 
ful office  over  my  soul,  that  as  all  true  believers  are  of  the 
royal  priesthood,  being  sons  of  Levi,  and  made  kings  and 
priests  to  God  and  the  Father,  never  may  my  soul  come  out 
of  the  furnace  of  thy  purification,  until  that  I  am  enabled,  by 
thy  grace,  to  offer  to  the  Lord  an  offering  in  the  blood  and 
righteousness  of  Jesus,  whereby  alone  I  can  find  acceptance 
with  God  in  grace  here,  and  glory  hereafter. 

12. — Take  this,  and  divide  it  amongst  it  yourselves. — Luke  xxii.  17. 

Ppv-ecious  Lord!  such  was  thine  unbounded  love  to  thy 
people,  that  thou  gavest  all  to  them  !  And,  dearest  Jesus, 
what  didst  thou  reserve  for  thj^self?  And  how  wise  was  thy 
love  manifested.  To  every  one  grace  according  to  the  mea- 
sure of  the  gift  of  Christ;  for  the  purchase  of  redemption,  in 
the  case  of  all,  cost  thee  the  same.  If,  indeed,  a  lamb  of  thine 
be  weak,  or  diseased,  or  torn,  or  scattered,  thou  wik  take  it 
to  thy  bosom,  while  thou  wilt  gently  lead  those  that  are  with 
young.  But  every  one,  and  all,  shall  have  thy  care  :  all,  as 
their  several  wants  may  be.  Here,  then.  Lord,  to  thy  table  I 
would  come.  Thy  death  hath  confirmed  all  thy  purchased 
blessings.  And  in  thy  holy  Supper  I  would  seek  grace,  that 
my  right  may  be  confirmed  in  them.  Before  God,  and  angels, 
and  men,  I  would  take  the  seal  of  thy  gift.  In  thy  blood 
thou  hast  signed  them :  in  the  word  of  thy  gospel  thou  hast 
recorded  them  :  in  the  ordinances  of  thy  church  they  are 
published  and  brought  forth :  and  by  thy  Spirit  thou  givest 


DECEMBER.  303 

the  tokens  and  the  pledges  of  them  to  thy  redeemed.  Wit- 
ness for  me,  then,  ye  angels  of  light,  that  I  accept  of  all  in 
Jesus  and  in  his  free  gift,  the  purchase  of  his  blood,  and  the 
tokens  of  his  love.  Sweeter  are  they  to  my  mouth  than 
honey  and  the  honey-comb.  Blessed  Jesus  !  thy  love  is  bet- 
ter than  wine ! 

13. — The  Tree  of  Life. — Revelation  xxii.  2. 

Lead  me,  oh  Holy  Ghost,  by  the  hand  of  faith,  this  morn- 
ing into  the  paradise  of  God,  and  cause  me  to  sit  down  under 
the  tree  of  life  ;  and  for  a  while,  before  the  world  breaks  in 
upon  me,  enable  me  to  meditate  on  its  beauties,  its  loveliness, 
and  its  fruit.  Is  it  not  Jesus  which  I  behold  in  this  charming 
similitude  ?  Surely  Jesus  is  to  me  the  Tree  of  life,  for  I  have 
no  life  but  in  him !  And  it  is  not  only  he  which  gave  me 
life  at  the  first,  but  preserves  it,  maintains  it,  and  will  preserve 
it  for  ever.  He  saith  himself.  Because  I  live,  ye  shall  live 
also.  And  as  he  is  himself  the  life  of  my  soul,  so  every  thing 
in  him  is  the  promoter  of  my  life.  His  fruit  also  is  all  my 
sustenance,  all  I  want,  all  I  desire,  all  I  can  truly  enjoy.  He 
bears  twelve  manner  of  fruits.  Yes  !  for  there  is  in  him  both 
fulness  and  variety :  pardon,  mercy,  and  peace,  in  the  blood 
of  his  cross  :  favour  with  God,  affection  with  men  ;  the  Spirit's 
gifts,  graces,  influences :  comfort  in  this  life,  happiness  and 
joy  in  that  which  is  to  come.  And  every  month  these  fruits 
abound.  Yes!  He  saith  himself.  My  fruit  is  better  than 
gold,  yea,  than  fine  gold  :  and  my  revenue  than  choice  silver. 
I  will  cause  them  that  love  me  to  inherit  substance ;  yea,  I 
will  fill  all  their  treasures.  Nay,  the  very  leaves  of  this  tree 
of  life  are  for  the  healing  of  the  nations.  And  how  healing 
indeed  is  Jesus,  in  his  word,  his  ordinances,  his  providences, 
his  promises,  his  dispensations  ?  Neither  is  this  all :  the  tree 
of  life  grows  in  the  midst  of  the  street,  and  is  open  in  every 
gospel-ordinance,  both  to  Jews  and  Gentiles,  both  to  bond  and 
free.  He  is  also  on  either  side  of  the  river.  The  church 
above,  though  sitting  under  the  full  enjoyment  of  him,  doth 
not  keep  him  wholly  to  herself  Blessed  be  his  name,  he  is 
as  much  for  the  glory  and  happiness  of  his  church  here  be- 
low, on  this  side  of  the  river  of  death.  And  is  this  Tree  of 
life,  this  Jesus,  mine  ?  Oh  !  the  vast  privilege  !  I  bless  thee, 
oh,  thou  Holy  Spirit,  for  giving  me  the  knowledge  of  him 
now  by  faith :  and  ere  long,  I  hope  to  sit  down  for  ever  in 
the  paradise  of  God,  in  the  unceasing  enjoyment  of  him,  from 


304  MORNING   rOR-TION. 

whence  I  shall  arise  no  more,  but  dwell  under  his  branches 
for  ever. 


14. — Nevertheless,  he  saved  ihem  for  his  name's  sake,  that  he  might 
make  his  mighty  power  to  be  known. — Psalm  cvi.  8. 

Pause,  my  soul,  over  this  verse,  and  observe  how  thy  gra- 
cious God  took  occasion,  from  the  misery  of  Israel,  and  even 
from  their  unworthiness,  to  magnify  the  riches  of  his  grace. 
Israel  had  highly  sinned  :  they  had  provoked  the  Lord  ;  and 
their  provocations  were  aggravated  from  the  spot  where  they 
were  committed,  for  it  was  at  the  sea,  even  at  the  Red  Sea, 
that  memorable  sea  where  the  Lord  had  made  a  path  for  their 
deliverance.  And  wherefore  then  did  he  save  them? 
Wherefore  did  not  the  Lord  drown  them  in  the  depths  of  the 
sea,  for  their  unbelief  and  hardness  of  heart?  This  sweet 
scripture  gives  the  reason.  He  saved  them  for  his  name's 
sake.  His  name  was  engaged  in  covenant-promises.  And 
his  glory  was  magnified  in  making  good  his  engagements, 
notwithstanding  all  their  undeservings.  And  what  saith  this 
doctrine  to  thee,  my  soul  ?  There  is  a  nevertheless  with  thee 
also,  from  God's  covenant  engagements  in  Christ,  and  to 
Christ,  thy  glorious  covenant-head,  notwithstanding  all  thy 
unworthiness  and  provocations.  Though  I  fail  in  all,  God's 
covenant  fails  in  none.  Though  my  unbelief  breaks  out  like 
Israel's,  even  at  the  red  sea  of  Christ's  blood  ;  yet  the  efficacy 
of  that  blood  is  still  the  same,  and  the  Father's  engagement 
to  his  dear  Son,  by  virtue  of  it,  never  can  fail.  His  own  love 
is  the  standard  of  his  grace,  and  not  my  deservings.  His 
name's  sake,  and  not  my  merit,  the  rule  oif  his  favour  towards 
his  people;  and  all  in  Jesus.  Fold  up,  then,  this  blessed 
scripture,  my  soul,  for  thy  daily  meditation,  and  learn  to  bless 
the  freeness  of  that  grace,  which  hath  for  its  object  the  glory 
of  God's  name,  and  no  motive  for  thy  salvation,  but  God's 
glory  in  Christ  Jesus. 

15. — Knowing  that  tribulation  worketh  patience. — Romans  v.  3. 

Have  former  trials  been  blessed  to  thee,  my  soul?  Why 
then,  depend  upon  it.  this,  be  it  what  it  may,  will  be  also. 
The  covenant  love  and  faithfulness  of  God  in  Christ,  are  both 
the  same  now,  as  they  ever  were.  If  the  Lord  hath  hitherto 
been  making  all  things  work  together  for  good,  so  will  he 
now.     Only  pause  and  consider  why  it  must  be  so.     Thy 


DECEMBER,  305 

God  is  the  same  God  as  ever:  is  he  not?  And  his  love  to 
thee  the  same,  because  it  is  in  Jesus.  His  covenant  the  same. 
His  promises  the  same.  The  blood  and  righteousness  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  in  efficacy  the  same.  Well  then,  as  all  the  per- 
fections of  God  are  engaged  for  God's  people,  certain  it  is, 
that  no  trial  to  his  people  can  arise  which  he  knew  not,  nay, 
which  he  appointed  not,  and  for  which  he  hath  not  made  a 
suitable  provision.  Well  then,  what  trouble  of  thine  can  be 
so  great,  as  to  counteract  and  overcome  divine  strength? 
What  burthen  so  heavy  that  Jesus  cannot  bear  ?  What  af- 
flictions so  painful  that  Jesus  cannot  soften  ?  What  grief  so 
scorching,  as  to  dry  up  the  streams  of  God's  love?  Hear 
then  his  words :  In  your  'patience  possess  ye  your  souls.  My 
soul,  rest  in  this.  Let  past  experience  bring  thee  present 
confidence.  See  that  all  thy  fresh  springs  of  patience  flow 
from  Jesus.  Wait  patiently  for  the  Lord,  by  believing  in 
him.  And  depend  upon  it,  thy  present  tribulation,  of  what 
sort  or  kind  soever  it  is,  will  terminate,  like  every  former,  in 
bringing  glory  to  God,  and  comfort  to  thy  soul. 


16. — He  that  is  surety  for  a  stranger  shall  smart  for  it ;  and  he  that 
hateth  suretiship  is  sure. — Prov.  xi.  15. 

Blessed  Jesus  !  well  is  it  for  me,  that  thou  didst  not  hate 
to  become  a  Surety.  For  hadst  thou  so  done,  and  refused 
the  vast  undertaking,  I  must  have  perished  for  ever.  And 
hadst  thou  consented  to  have  become  a  Surety  only  for  friends, 
and  those  only  that  loved  thee,  still  here  again  I  should  have 
been  lost.  But  when  thou  condescendest  to  become  a  Surety 
for  me,  oh  Lord  !  it  was  not  simply  for  a  stranger,  but  for  a 
rebel,  a  hater  and  despiser  of  thee,  and  of  thy  great  salvation. 
Oh  the  love  of  God  that  passeth  knowledge  !  And  how, 
blessed  Jesus,  didst  thou  indeed  smart,  and  wert  crushed  and 
broken,  when  for  my  dreadful  debt  of  sin,  which  surpassed 
all  the  angels  of  light  to  pay,  it  pleased  the  Father  to  bruise 
thee,  and  to  put  thee  to  grief.  Oh  matchless  love  of  a  most 
compassionate  Saviour!  Methinks  I  see  thee  taking  my 
place  under  the  angry  eye  of  God's  broken  law.  Methinks 
I  see  thee  striking  my  worthless  name  out  of  the  bond  of  the 
covenant  of  the  law  of  works,  and  putting  thine  own  in. 
Methinks  I  still  hear  thee,  like  another  Judah,  who  in  this 
was  evidently  thy  type,  saying  to  God  and  the  Father,  I  will 
be  Surety  for  him:  at  my  hands  thou  shalt  require  him.  Oh 
Lamb  of  God  !   I  bless  thee  as  my  Surety.     I  acknowledge 

26* 


306  MORNING   PORTION. 

thee  as  m}^  glorious  Sponsor.  I  was  a  stranger  indeed,  and 
thou  hast  owned  me,  and  brought  me  home.  I  was  in  debt, 
and  insolvent,  and  thou  hast  cancelled  the  whole  in  the  blood 
of  thy  cross.  I  was  naked,  and  thou  hast  clothed :  sick  and 
in  prison,  and  thou  hast  visited,  healed  me.  and  brought  me 
out.  I  was  lost,  and  thou  hast  redeemed  and  saved  me.  Oh. 
what  shall  I  render  unto  the  Lord,  for  all  the  benefits  he  hath 
done  unto  me  ?  Bless  the  Lord,  oh  my  soul !  and  all  that  is 
within  me,  bless  his  holy  name. 

17. — Fear  not ;  I  have  the  keys  of  hell  and  of  death. — Rev.  i.  17,  18. 

Is  it  Jesus,  all  precious,  all  lovely,  all  powerful  Jesus,  saith 
this?  He  who  hath  redeemed  my  soul  from  hell,  mine  eyes 
from  tears,  and  my  feet  from  falling?  And  hath  Jesus,  my 
Husband,  my  Brother,  my  Redeemer,  the  keys  both  of  hell 
and  of  death?  Why  then  it  is  impossible  for  any  to  open  death's 
door,  one  moment  before  that  he  give  the  appointment.  And 
doth  he  command  m.e  to  fear  not  ?  Oh,  then,  my  soul !  dis- 
miss all  anxiety  about  thy  departure.  Thy  time  is  in  Jesus' 
hands.  The  keys  are  hanging  at  thy  Redeemer's  girdle. 
Never  fear  neither,  to  die  as  thou  hast  lived,  and  art  living, 
in  a  believing  frame  in  Jesus.  This  is  as  much  suited  to  a 
dying  time,  as  it  is  to  a  living  time  ;  for  with  this  thou  mayest 
go  out  of  the  world,  as  safe  as  living  in  it.  To  live  is  Christ, 
and  to  die  is  gain.  God's  covenant  love,  and  God's  cove- 
nant promises  in  Jesus,  are  the  same.  They  are  both  in 
death  and  life,  fixed  and  sure.  When  Jesus  therefore  comes, 
when  the  Master  calls  for  thee,  wilt  thou  feel  reluctant? 
What !  reluctant  to  go  to  Jesus  ?  Is  this  thy  love,  thy  kind- 
ness, to  thy  friend  ?  Forbid  it,  dearest  Lord.  No  !  my  pre- 
cious, blessed  Jesus !  open  the  gate  of  death  to  me  wheii  thou 
pleasest,  where  thou  pleasest,  and  how  thou  pleasest.  Sure  I 
am  thou  wilt  be  present,  and  that's  enough  for  me.  And 
when  the  ground  of  all  sensible  comforts  is  sinking  under 
me,  oh  for  a  vigorous  effort  of  faith,  communicated  by  thee, 
that  I  may  drop  the  body,  and  leap  at  once  into  thy  arms, 
with  the  last  cry  of  faith.  Lord  Jesus  receive  my  Spirit,  for 
thou  hast  redeemed  me.  O  Lord,  thou  God  of  truth  ! 


18. — For  through  him  we  both  have   access  by  one   Spirit  unto  the 
Father. — Ephes.  ii.  18. 

Who  would  have  thought  that  so  short  a  verse  should  con- 
tain so  much  sweetness?     And  who  would  have  conceived 


DECEMBER.  307 

that  in  it  the  gracious  offices  of  all  the  Persons  of  the  God- 
head, as  they  are  mercifully  exercised  towards  a  poor  sinner, 
are  described  ?  Is  not  the  access  to  a  throne  of  grace,  the 
work,  the  leading  of  God  the  Holy  Ghost  ?  Surely,  he  is 
the  Spirit  here  spoken  of.  And  through  whom  can  a  poor 
sinner  have  access  to  the  mercy-seat,  but  in  Him,  and  by 
Him,  and  through  Him,  whom  the  Father  heareth  always  ? 
And  to  whom  should  the  regenerated  adopted  child  of  God 
have  access,  but  unto  his  God  and  Father  in  Christ  Jesus  ? 
Are  then  all  the  glorious  Persons  of  the  Godhead  thus  re- 
vealed, as  engaged  in  every  poor  sinner's  approach  to  the 
heavenly  throne?  Oh  for  grace  to  give  to  each,  and  to  all, 
the  praise,  and  glory,  and  love,  due  to  such  transcendent 
mercy  ;  and  in  a  conscious  sense  of  being  interested  in 
this  great  salvation,  to  cry  out  with  the  Apostle.  Now 
thanks  be  unto  God,  who  always  causeth  us  to  triumph  in 
Christ. 


19. — God  is  faithful,  by  whom  we  were  called  unto  the  fellowship  of  his 
Son  Jesus  Christ. — 1  Cor.  i.  9. 

Think,  my  soul,  what  a  dignity  believers  m  Jesus  are 
called  unto,  when  brought  into  a  nearness  of  communion 
with  their  glorious  Head,  in  any  exercise  of  trials  or  afflic- 
tion for  his  sake.  God  is  faithful  in  the  appointment.  How  1 
In  that  it  proves  God's  fulfilment  of  his  covenant  promises, 
when  Jesus  and  his  members  are  considered  by  him  as  one. 
God  is  faithful  in  manifesting  this  oneness  and  fellowship,  in 
making  the  members  conformable  to  their  glorious  Head,  by 
trials  or  sufferings.  CTod  is  faithful  in  sending  the  affliction. 
And  God  manifests  his  faithfulness  in  guidmg  through  it, 
and  supporting  under  it.  The  trial  itself,  be  it  what  it  may, 
is  a  discovery  of  the  covenant  love  and  faithfulness  of  Jeho- 
vah. Nay,  God  would  not  have  manifested  his  faithfulness 
to  a  believer  without  -it  What  a  sweet  consoling  thought 
this  is  to  the  afflicted  exercised  followers  of  the  Lamb,  under 
their  trials  !  My  soul !  do  thou  look  at  the  subject,  and  learn 
from  it  to  consider  all  tribulations  in  this  view,  and  what  a 
blessedness  will  pour  in  upon  thee  from  so  doing.  Hath  the 
Lord  called  thee  to  exercises  ?  Hath  the  progress  of  them 
led  thee  more  to  Jesus  ?  Hath  the  issue  of  them  tended  to 
endear  Jesus?  Oh,  then,  proclaim  God's  faithfulness!  I 
know.  Lord,  (said  one  of  old  under  trials,)  that  thy  judg- 
ments are  right,  and  that  thou  in  very  faithfulness  hast  af- 


308  MORNING    PORTION. 

flicted  me.  Precious  Jesus!  what  a  dignified  path  is  tribula- 
tion, when  we  are  enabled  to  see  thy  footsteps  going  before, 
marked  with  blood. 


20. — The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his   Son  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin. — 
1  John  i.  7. 

My  Soul,  sit  down  for  a  while  by  this  crimson  fountain, 
£Rid  duly  ponder  over  this  glorious  property  of  thy  Re- 
deemer's blood.  Oh,  the  sovereign  efficacy  of  it !  For  it  not 
only  cleanseth  sin,  but  all  sin  :  not  only  others'  sins,  but  our 
sins  :  not  only  the  present  evil  of  sin,  but  the  everlasting  evil 
of  it:  not  only  now,  but  for  ever.  It  cleanseth  from  all  sin. 
Pause,  my  soul !  Is  there  any  other  laver  to  wash  away  sin  ? 
Can  prayers,  or  tears,  or  repentance,  or  ordinances,  or  com- 
munions, or  duties,  or  alms  ?  Oh  no.  We  must  say  of 
every  thing,  and  of  all  things,  out  of  Christ,  and  void  of 
Christ,  as  Job  did  concerning  his  friends.  Miserable  comforters 
are  ye  all ;  physicians  of  no  value.  Here  then,  my  soul, 
seek  thy  cleansing,  and  here  only.  And  while  to  this  foun- 
tain thou  art  daily  brought  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  look  up  and 
behold  the  whole  assembly  of  the  redeemed  above,  who  are 
now  standing  around  the  throne,  owing  their  bliss  and  their 
cleansing  to  the  same  source.  Listen  to  their  songs  of  joy, 
and  catch  the  notes,  to  sing  even  now  the  same  song  of  re- 
joicing. They  have  washed  their  robes,  and  made  them 
white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  And  therefore  it  is,  and  for 
no  other  cause,  that  they  are  now  before  the  throne,  and 
serve  the  Lord  in  his  temple  day  and  night. 

21. — Then  I  restored  that  which  I  took  not  away. — Psalm  Ixix.  4. 

Whose  words  are  these  ?  They  can  be  none  but  the  words 
of  Jesus ;  for  none  ever  made  restoration  but  him  ;  and  none 
but  him  could  say,  I  took  nothing  away.  And  what  was 
taken  away?  God's  glory  was  taken  away  by  sin :  and, 
consequently,  man's  happiness  also.  For  when  Adam  sinned, 
he  robbed  God  of  his  glory,  and  robbed  himself  and  all  his 
posterity  of  God's  image,  and  with  it  all  happiness.  Nay, 
my  soul !  thou  hast  done  the  same  in  every  renewed  act  of 
disobedience.  And  in  breaking  the  divine  law,  thou  hast 
justly  lost  the  divine  favour.  And  hath  Jesus,  all-precious 
Jesus,  restored  all  these  1  Yes,  blessings  on  his  name,  he 
hath  !     And  what  renders  it  ten-fold  more  gracious,  he  hath 


DECEMBER.  309 

SO  done  it,  as  never  to  be  lost  any  more.  By  his  finished 
work  of  salvation  he  hath  restored  to  God  his  glory.  And 
by  his  obedience  and  death,  as  our  Surety,  he  hath  restored 
to  man  his  happiness.  The  favour  of  God  we  lost  by  sin  : 
Jesus  hath  restored  it  by  justifying  us,  in  his  righteousness. 
The  image  of  God  we  lost  by  rebellion  :  Jesus  hath  restored 
to  us  this  image,  in  sanctifying  us  by  his  ioliness.  So  that 
every  v*ray,  and  in  all  things,  Jesus  hath  made  up  the  breach, 
and  the  poor  sinner  who  is  led  by  grace  to  believe  in  Jesus, 
stands  more  complete  and  secure  now  than  before  the  fall. 
For  if  Adam  had  never  sinned,  nor  his  children  in  him,  yet, 
after  all,  tbeir  righteousness  before  God  would  have  been  but 
the  righteousness  of  creatures.  Whereas  now,  in  Jesus,  the 
believer  stands  accepted  and  secured  in  the  righteousness  of 
the  Creator.  Hail  then,  thou  Almighty  Restorer  of  our 
ilillen  nature!  In  thee.  Lord,  would  my  poor  soul  triumph- 
antly say,  have  I  righteousness  and  strength :  even  to  thee 
shall  men  come ;  and  all  that  believe  in  thee,  shall  never  be 
ashamed  nor  confounded,  world  without  end. 


22. 
his 


•Haviujs:  made  known  unto  us  the  mystery  of  his  will,  according  to 
is  good  pleasure,  wliich  he  hath  purpo.sed  in  himself. — Eph.  i.  9. 

My  soul!  pause  over  these  volumes  of  divine  truth:  for 
they  are  not  as  so  many  simple  v\'ords,  but  contain  vast  vo- 
lumes indeed,  and  such  as  a  whole  eternity  will  not  afford 
space  to  read  over  and  finish.  The  first  is  a  large  one  in- 
deed— even  the  mystery  of  God's  will :  namely,  the  mystery 
of  redemption,  originating  in  the  divine  mind,  before  all 
worlds.  And  this  is  not  the  smallest  part  of  it,  that  it  should 
be  made  known  in  any  degree  or  measure  to  thee,  my  soul: 
a  poor  creature  of  a  day,  and  that  day,  a  day  of  nothing  but 
sin.  The  second  volume  in  this  vast  subject  is  another  pre- 
cious part  of  the  same  glorious  truth,  namely,  that  this  mercy 
of  God  in  Christ  is  the  sole  result  of  God's  good  pleasure. 
No  foresight,  no  merit,  no  pretensions  of  thine,  my  soul;  no, 
nor  the  merits  of  archangels,  becoming  in  the  least,  the 
cause.  For  though  a  gracious  God  hath  taken  occasion  to 
make  a  glorious  display  of  the  depths  of  his  grace,  from  the 
depths  of  men's  ruin:  yet  it  was  not  our  state,  but  his  good 
pleasure,  which  laid  the  foundation  of  our  recovery  by  Jesus 
Christ.  And  the  third  volume  in  this  stupendous  subject  is, 
that  He  that  planned,  executed  and  finished  it.  As  none  but 
infinite  wisdom  could  purpose,  so  none  but  infinite  power 


310  MORNING   PORTION. 

couid  accomplish.  Pause,  my  soul,  and  contemplate  the  vast 
mercy  !  It  comes  from  a  God  in  Christ,  as  the  first  cause  ; 
and  reverts  back  again  to  God  in  Christ,  as  the  final  end. 
Hallelujah ! 

23. — Lo,  I  come ! — Psalm  Ix.  7. 

What  a  longing  had  Old  Testament  saints  for  the  Lord 
Jesus'  coming !  And  what  an  earnest  wish  and  prayer  it  is 
among  New  Testament  believers,  for  Jesus'  coming  by  the 
visits  of  his  grace,  and  the  sweet  influences  of  his  Holy 
Spirit,  from  day  to  day !  My  soul !  methinks  I  w^ould  re- 
alize by  faith  this  day,  even  this  very  day,  these  words  of  thy 
Redeemer,  as  if  he  were  now  standing  at  the  door  of  thine 
heart,  and  asking  for  admission.  And  shall  I  not  say,  under 
this  sweet  impression.  Come  in,  thou  blessed  of  the  Lord ! 
wherefore  standest  thou  without  ?  Oh,  blessed  Jesus  !  when 
I  consider  the  many  precious  instances  of  thy  coming,  set  up 
from  everlasting  in  thy  goings  forth  for  the  salvation  of  thy 
chosen — thy  anticipation,  in  thy  visits  before  the  season  of 
thy  tabernacling  in  our  flesh :  thy  visits  to  the  patriarchs  and 
prophets :  thy  manifestation  openly  to  the  people :  thy  secret, 
sweet,  and  inexpressibly  gracious  visits  now,  and  thy  pro- 
mised return  in  the  clouds  at  the  final  consummation  of  all 
things:  oh.  Lamb  of  God  !  dost  thou  say.  Lo,  I  come?  Oh 
for  the  earnestness  of  faith,  in  all  her  devout  longings,  to  cry 
out  with  the  church  of  old,  and  say.  Make  haste,  my  Beloved, 
and  come  ;  oh,  come  quickly,  Lord  Jesus  ! 

24. — God  sent  forth  his  Son  made  of  a  woman. — Gal.  iv.  4. 

How  little  did  Adam  suppose,  when  he  charged  God  fool- 
ishly, (as,  b}''  the  way,  it  may  be  observed  all  sinners  do  by 
this  plan.)  in  attempting  to  palm  ofl'  his  sin  upon  God,  that 
the  Lord  in  after  ages  would  put  distinguishing  honour  upon 
the  woman,  in  which  the  man  should  bear  no  part.  The 
woman,  said  Adam,  whom  thou  gavest  to  be  with  me,  she 
tempted  me,  and  I  did  eat.  Thus  endeavouring  to  throw  the 
whole  blame  of  his  transgression  upon  his  gracious  Bene- 
factor. It  is  as  if  he  had  said,  Hadst  thou  not  given  me  this 
woman,  I  should  not  have  disobeyed  thy  command.  Now 
observe,  my  soul,  God's  benignity  and  grace  upon  this  occa- 
sion. The  seed  of  the  woman,  said  God,  shall  bruise  the 
serpent's  head.    Not  the  seed  of  the  man,  but  of  the  woman. 


DECEMBER,  311 

And  when  the  fulness  of  the  time  was  come  for  this  promise 
to  be  accomplished,  God  sent  forth  his  Son,  made  of  a  woman, 
without  the  intervention  of  an  human  father,  but  by  the  mi- 
raculous impregnation  only  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  As  if  to 
honour  the  weaker  vessel,  and  to  open  a  source  of  peculiar 
comfort  in  the  female  breast.  As  if  God  had  said,  in  answer 
to  Adam's  daring  impiety,  Though  all  the  redeemed  among 
men  shall  partake  in  this  great  salvation,  yet  the  woman 
shall  have  in  it  an  eminent  token  of  divine  favour.  And  as 
the  accursed  enemy  of  God  and  man  did  first  beguile  the 
woman,  from  the  woman  shall  arise  Him,  that  shall  destroy 
the  Devil.  The  blessings  of  redemption  shall  begin  with  the 
woman,  to  her  peculiar  honour,  and  to  the  serpent's  everlast- 
ing shame.  For  He  that  in  after  ages  shall  do  away  more 
than  all  the  evil  of  sin  and  the  fall,  by  the  sacrifice  of  him- 
self, shall  be  born  of  a  woman.  And  thus  the  Lord  mani- 
fested forth  his  grace,  in  silencing  Adam's  unbecoming  ex- 
postulation. Oh  !  the  wonderful  way  and  method  of  our 
wonder-working  God. 

25. — And  the  Word  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us John  i.  14. 

Turn  aside,  my  soul,  this  day,  from  every  vain  and  worldly 
thought,  as  Moses  did  at  the  bush,  and  behold  by  faith  the 
accomplishment  of  what  he  then  saw  in  type  and  figure,  of 
this  great  sight  which  the  Lord  hath  made  known  unto  thee. 
— The  Word,  the  uncreated  Word,  even  the  eternal  Son  of 
God,  taking  upon  him  the  nature  of  man,  and  uniting  both 
in  one  Person,  that  by  the  union  he  might  be  a  suitable  Sa- 
viour for  his  people.  As  God,  he  was  mighty  to  save,  and 
fully  competent  to  the  wonderful  act.  As  man,  he  was  a 
suitable  Saviour,  for  the  right  of  redemption  belonged  to 
him.  And  as  both.  He,  and  He  alone,  could  become  a  pro- 
per Mediator,  to  reconcile  and  bring  together  God  and  man, 
which  by  sin  were  at  variance.  This  was  the  glorious  news 
angels  posted  down  from  heaven  to  proclaim.  This  was  the 
song  of  heaven,  for  which  they  sung,  Glory  to  God  in  the 
highest,  and  on  earth  peace,  good  will  to  men.  My  soul ! 
canst  thou  join  the  song  ?  Yes,  if  so  be  thou  hast  received 
Christ  in  those  glorious  characters ;  if,  as  for  this  divine  pur- 
pose he  was  born  in  our  streets,  he  is  born  in  thy  heart  also, 
and  formed  there  the  hope  of  glory.  Oh !  it  is  a  blessed 
thing  to  have  true  scriptural  views  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  so 


312  MORNING    PORTION. 

to  receive  him,  as  Jehovah  hath  set  him  forth,  the  Christ  of 
God.     Amen, 


26. — Jesus  Christ  of  the  seed  of  David. — 2  Timothy  ii.  2.    . 

Sweet  thought !  Jesus  will  have  regard  to  both  sexes,  in 
his  incarnation.  He  will  be  of  the  seed  of  the  woman ;  he 
Avill  be  also  truly  and  properly  man.  As  both  the  man  and 
woman  had  sinned,  so  redemption  shall  be  for  both.  But  in 
the  holy  nature,  in  which  as  Redeemer  he  will  come,  he  will 
partake  of  none  of  their  sins.  The  man  shall  have  no  hand 
in  his  generation.  And  the  womb  of  the  woman  shall  be 
but  the  deposit  of  "that  holy  thing''  so  called,  (Luke  i.  35,) 
by  the  miraculous  conception  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  So  that 
the  body  which  God  the  Father  prepared  him,  belonged  to 
both,  but  was  unconnected  with  either.  He  must  be  truly 
man  ;  for  the  law  had  said.  Every  male  that  openeth  the 
womb  shall  be  called  Hoi}?-  unto  the  Lord.  He  must  be  a 
priest ;  and  no  woman  could  minister  in  that  office.  He 
must  be  a  prophet;  and  no  woman  could  exercise  that  pro- 
vince, for  it  is  not  permitted  for  a  w^oman  to  speak  in  the 
church.  He  must  be  a  king ;  and  the  kingly  office  belong- 
eth  not  to  the  weaker  vessel.  But  both  sexes  shall  be  equally 
at  the  same  time  concerned  in  the  blessed  event  of  his  incar- 
nation. The  w^oman  is  saved  in  the  child-bearing  of  this 
Redeemer,  and  the  man  brought  into  favour  and  reconcilia- 
tion ;  for  as  by  man  came  death,  by  man  came  also  the  resur- 
rection of  the  dead.  So  that,  as  the  Apostle  strongly  and 
satisfactorily  concludes,  there  is  neither  Jew  nor  Greek,  there 
is  neither  bond  nor  free,  there  is  neither  male  nor  female,  but 
ye  are  all  one  in  Christ  Jesus, 

27. — For  tlie  mountains  shall  depart,  and  the  hills  shall  be  removed  :  but 
my  kindness  shall  not  depart  from  thee,  neither  shall  the  covenant 
of  my  peace  be  removed,  saith  the  Lord  that  hath  mercy  on  thee. — 
Isaiah  liv.  10. 

What  a  rest  is  here,  for  a  poor  redeemed  sinner  to  stand 
firm  upon,  in  time  and  to  all  eternity !  Well  may  he  cry  out 
concerning  Jesus,  and  his  great  salvation  in  him.  He  is  a 
rock,  and  his  work  is  perfect.  Yes  !  yes,  thou  Lord  God  of 
my  salvation :  thou  art  my  dwelling-place  in  all  generations. 
My  soul,  look  all  around  thee,  look  within  thee,  look  every 
where  about  thee.     Search,  behold,  examine  diligently,  what 


DECEMBER.  313 

else  will  or  can  afford  thee  any  security.  And  think  what  a 
dying  world  it  is  in  which  thou  art  dwelling",  or  rather  tra- 
velling through.  What  friend,  what  brother,  what  child, 
what  relation,  can  give  thee  help  of  soul,  or  even  of  body, 
when  thou  most  shalt  need  it?  Think  what  a  day,  a  week, 
an  hour,  may  bring  forth !  Amidst  all  these  changes,  is  Jesus 
thine?  'Qoih  he  tell  thee,  that  though  mountains  depart,  and 
hills  be  removed,  his  salvation  and  the  Father's  covenant  of 
peace  is  the  same  ?  Shout,  shout,  my  soul,  and  begin  the 
song,  which  in  a  dying  hour  will  only  swell  louder :  Salva- 
tion to  God  and  the  Lamb ! 


28. — The  eyes  of  the  Lord  thy  God  are  always  upon  thee,  from  the  be- 
ginnmg  of  the  year,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  year. — Deut.  xi.  12. 

Oh  for  grace  to  live  always  under  an  abiding  sense  of  this 
most  blessed  truth.  My  soul,  never  forget  it,  if  possible,  but 
always  possess  in  recollection  an  abiding  apprehension  of 
Jesus'  gracious  presence.  And  do  thou,  dearest  Lord,  when 
thou  art  coming  forth  in  mercies,  give  me  grace  to  be  going 
forth  to  meet  thee  with  praises  ;  and  while  thou  art  bartering 
thy  riches  for  my  poverty,  let  all  thy  bounties  be  doubly 
sweetened  in  coming  from  thine  own  hand,  and  being  sanc- 
tified by  thy  blessing,  that  I  may  receive  all  to  my  soul's  joy, 
and  to  the  praise  of  the  Father's  grace  in  Christ  Jesus. 
Amen. 


29. — Not  one  thing  hath  failed,  of  all  the  good  things  which  the  Lord 
your  God  spake  concerning  you. — Joshua  xxiii.  14. 

Say,  my  soul,  in  looking  back  the  past  year,  canst  thou  set 
thy  seal  to  this  truth  ?  Is  there  a  promise  which  thy  God 
hath  not  fulfilled  ?  Is  there  an  instance  in  which  God  hath 
forfeited  his  word  ?  Canst  thou  point  to  the  time,  or  place, 
in  any  one  trial,  or  under  any  one  afliiction,  in  which  thou 
hast  not  found  God  faithful?  Give  then  the  Lord  the  honour 
due  unto  his  name.  If  not  one  thing  hath  failed,  proclaim 
his  glory,  set  forth  his  praise,  declare  his  truth,  let  the  father 
to  the  children  make  known  that  God  is  faithful.  And  oh ! 
let  thine  heart  bear  testimony  to  what  must  be  said  of  all  his 
Israel,  in  all  ages.  What  hath  God  wrought ! 

27 


314  MORNING   PORTION. 

30. Then  Samuel  took  a  stone,  and  set  it  between  Mizpah  and  Shen, 

and  called  the  name  of  it  Eben-ezer,  saying,  Hitherto  the  Lord  hath 
us. — 1  Sam.  vii.  12. 


Dm  Samuel  do  this?  Was  that  servant  of  the  Lord,  who 
lived  not  to  see  Christ  in  the  flesh,  so  full  of  faith  in  the  com- 
ino-  Saviour,  and  in  the  experiences  of  Jehovah's  faithfulness 
in  what  was  past,  that  he  set  up  his  Ebenezer  1  Surely,  my 
soul,  thou  wilt  blush  to  be  outdone  by  the  prophet,  when  thou 
hast  not  only  seen  the  day  of  the  Son  of  man  completed,  but 
felt  his  power.  Oh,  my  soul !  let  thine  Ebenezer  be  Jesus ! 
Let  the  stone  thou  settest  up,  be  indeed  the  Rock  of  ages. 
Yes,  my  soul !  set  up  Jesus  indeed,  in  all  places,  at  all  times, 
upon  all  occasions.  And  oh.  Lord  !  do  thou  by  thy  blessed 
Spirit  set  up  thyself  in  my  heart,  and  enthrone  thyself  there, 
and  reign  and  rule  there  foreever.  Surely,  my  soul !  Jesus 
is  thine  every  day  Ebenezer  ;  for  he  not  only  hath  hitherto 
helped,  but  he  doth  help,  and  will  help,  and  be  himself  thine 
Help,  thy  God,  thy  Portion,  thy  Jesus,  for  evermore. 

31. — And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying.  Speak  unto  Aaron,  and 
imto  his  sons,  saying,  On  this  wise  ye  shall  bless  the  children  of  Is- 
rael, saying  unto  them,  The  Lord  bless  thee,  and  keep  thee.  The 
Lord  make  his  face  to  shine  upon  thee,  and  be  gracious  unto  thee. 
The  Lord  lift  up  his  countenance  upon  ihee,  and  give  thee  peace. 
And  they  shall  put  my  name  upon  the  children  of  Israel,  and  I  will 
bless  them.     Numbers  vi.  22  to  27. 

Pause,  my  soul,  and  in  these  sweet  words  behold  thine 
almighty  Aaron,  even  Jesus,  in  his  everlasting  priesthood,  day 
by  day,  thus  blessing  his  people.  Observe,  the  blessing  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord  Jehovah  is  thrice  pronounced,  as  if  to 
teach  the  plurality  of  persons  in  the  Godhead.  And  observe 
also,  after  this  blessing  thrice  pronounced,  Jehovah,  as  if  to 
intimate  the  unity  of  the  divine  essence,  declares,  I  will  bless 
them.  My  soul,  mark  each.  The  First  may  be  considered 
as  the  personal  blessing  of  God  the  Father,  whose  gracious 
office  it  is  in  the  work  of  redemption  to  bless  and  keep  his 
people.  The  Second  is  the  peculiar  mercy  of  Jesus,  whose 
face  is  always  upon  his  people,  and  his  grace  their  portion. 
And  the  Third  is  the  work  of  God  the  Holy  Ghost,  when 
his  blessed  influences  are  shed  abroad  upon  the  soul,  in  the 
light  of  his  divine  countenance.  And,  my  soul,  observe  fur- 
ther, how  personally  this  blessing  from  the  Holy  Three  in 
One  is  to  each  individual :  it  is  to  thee,  even  to  thee.     And, 


DECEMBER.  315 

my  soul,  do  not  forget  nor  overlook  this  vast  privilege  in  the 
blessing.  Aaron  the  great  high-priest  of  the  church,  could 
only  pray  for  the  people  that  these  mercies  might  be  upon 
them  ;  but  thy  great  High-priest,  the  Lord  Jesus,  confirms 
them.  His  language  is,  Father  /  will.  And  God  having 
raised  up  his  Son  Jesus,  hath  sent  him  to  bless  us.  Here 
then,  blessed,  precious  Jesus  !  thou  Great  High-priest  of  my 
soul!  close  the  day,  every  daj^,  close  the  year,  close  my  life, 
whenever  thou  shalt  be  pleased  to  call  me  home,  in  thus 
blessing  me.  Lord !  put  thy  name  upon  me,  and  upon  all 
thy  church  and  people,  and  we  shall  be  most  blessed  indeed, 
in  life,  in  death,  and  for  evermore,  Amen :  Hallelujah : 
Amen  1 


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THE   BRITISH    PULPIT. 

Consisting  of  Discourses  by  the  most  eminent  living  divines,  in  England, 
Scotland,  and  Ireland ;  accompanied  with  Pulpit  Sketches.  By  the 
Rev.  W.  Suddards,  rector  of  Grace  Church,  Philadelphia.  2  vols. 
8vo.     Price  $2  50. 

"The  sermons  may  be  regarded  as  among  the  very  best  specimens  of  the  modern 
British  pulpit ;  and  indeed  the  work  includes  almost  every  distinguished  name  to  be 
found  in  any  of  the  Evangelical  denominations  in  Great  Britain.  It  is  of  course  per- 
vaded by  a  great  variety  of  taste  and  talent,  and  is  for  this  very  reasoa  the  better 
adapted  to  gain  extensive  circulation  and  to  be  eminently  useful." — Argus. 

CONNECTION  OF 

SACRED    AND    PROFANE    HISTORY. 

Being  a  Review  of  the  principal  Events  in  the  World,  as  they  bear  upon 
the  state  of  Religion,  from  the  close  of  the  Old  Testament  Historj',  till 
the  establishment  of  Christianity.  By  D.  Davidson.  3  vols.  12mo. 
Price  $1  50. 

"  This  work  is  well  executed,  and  is,  we  think,  calculated  to  become  popular.  The 
historical  plan  is  clear  and  unique,  and  the  style  is  singularly  attractive,  on  account 
of  its  purity  and  strength.  It  is  constructed  upon  a  Christian  basis,  recognizing  the 
fact,  that  although  the  superintending  power  of  God  over  the  progress  of  nations, 
may  be  as  untraceable  as  his  paths  iu  the  ocean,  yet  the  effects  are  everywhere  visi- 
ble, and  manifest  the  progressive  fulfilment  of  the  prophetic  denunciations  and  prom- 
ises set  forth  in  tlie  Holy  Oracles." — Protestant  Churchman. 

MEIVIOIR    OF    REV.    HENRY    MARTIN, 

Late  Chaplain  to  the  East  India  Company.     By  the  Rev.  John  Sargeat, 
M.A.     Fifth  American,  from  the  tenth  London  Edition.     12mo.    Price 
50  cents. 
4 


R.  CARTER'S  PUBLICATIONS. 


MEMOIR  OF    HANNAH    SINCLAIR. 

By  the  late  Rev.  Legh  Richmond.     From  the  nineteenth  London  Ed. 

TRUE     HAPPINESS; 

Or,  the  Excellence  and  Power  of  Early  Religion.  By  J.  G.  Pike,  author 
of  "Persuasives  to  Early  Piety,"  &c.      Second  Edition. 

"  We  shall  sufficiently  describe  the  character  of  this  book  by  representing  it  as  a 
collection  of  brief  memoirs  of  eminently  pious  persons,  which  illustrate  the  power  of 
religion  in  impartiug  true  happiness.  We  can  recoiamend  it  to  our  young  readers, 
who  will  find  it  adapted  to  engage  their  attention  and  amend  their  hearts." — Presbyt. 

CHARLIE    SEYMOURj 

Or,  the  Good  Aunt  and  the  Bad  Aunt.  By  Miss  Catherine  Sinclair,  au- 
thor of  "  Modem  Accomplishments,"  &c.     Third  Edition. 

"A  charming  book  for  youth,  in  which  some  interesting  lessons  are  taught,  and  so 
taught  that  they  will  be  read  with  delight,  and  remembered  after  they  are  read."— iV. 
F.  Observer. 

LIVE    WHILE    YOU     LIVE. 

By  the  Rev.  Thomas  Griffith,  A.M.,  Minister  of  Ram's  Episcopal  Chiirch, 
Homerton. 

"  We  never  heard  before  of  the  author  of  this  little  book,  but  we  expect  to  hear  of 
him  again,  as  we  cannot  believe  that  such  a  pen  as  he  holds  will  be  suffered  to  remain 
unemployed.  Not  only  is  the  general  conception  of  the  work  exceedingly  happy,  be- 
ing somewhat  of  that  pithy  and  striking  character  for  which  Jay^s  writings  are  so 
remarkable,  but  the  whole  train  of  thought  is  in  beautiful  harmony  with  the  plan  ;  the 
Btyle  is  highly  polished,  the  spirit  deeply  evangelical,  and  the  tendency  quickening, 
elevating,  comforting." — Albany  Daily  Advertiser. 

CROOK   IN   THE    LOT; 

Or,  a  Display  of  ths  Sovereignty  and  Wisdom  of  God  in  the  Afflictions  of 
Men,  and  the  Christian's  deportment  under  them.  By  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Boston. 

"  Boston  is  well  known  as  one  of  the  strongest  Calvinistic  writers,  and  the  volume 
before  us  bears  the  marks  of  his  vigorous  mind,  and  the  fruits  of  his  deep  and  evan- 
gelical piety.  It  is  accompanied  by  a  warm  recommendation  from  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Alexander,  Princeton." — New- York  Observer. 

A   TRIBUTE    OF    PARENTAL   AFFECTION 

To  the  Memory  of  my  beloved  and  only  Daughter,  Hannah  Jerram,  with 
a  Short  Account  of  the  last  Illness  and  Death  of  her  elder  Brother, 
Charles  Stranger  Jerram,  By  the  Rev.  Charles  Jerram,  A.M., 
Vicar  of  Chatham,  Surrey.  From  the  fifth  London  Edition. 
*'  We  regard  this  little  book  with  much  favour.  The  dying  scene  is  most  feelingly 
pourtrayed ;  and  the  reader,  if  the  better  sensibilities  be  not  blunted,  will  be  con- 
strained to  weep  with  those  that  weep." — Presbyterian, 

JUBILEE    MEMORIAL. 

Being  the  Sermons,  Meetings,  Presentations,  and  full  Account  of  the  Ju- 
bilee commemorating  the  Rev.  William  Jay's  Fifty  Years'  Ministry  at 
Argyle  Chapel,  Bath. 

"The  name  of  the  Rev.  William  Jay  is  very  precious  to  thousands  in  this  country 
as  well  as  in  England.  Some  of  his  children  and  grand-children  are  here.  And  he 
has,  doubtless,  not  a  few  spiritual  children  among  us.  We  trust  that  many  will  read 
and  understand,  and  derive  abundant  profit  from  the  example  thus  furnished,  of  min 
isterial  fidelity  and  its  earthly  rewards." — Boston  Recorder. 
9 


R.  CARTEPv'S  PUBLICATIONS. 


THE    LORD'S    SUPPER. 

Bickersteth's  Treatise  on  the   Lord's  Supper.     With   an    Introduction, 
Notes,  and  an  Essay.     By  G.  T.  Bedell,  D.D.     Fifth  Edition. 

"  This  work  is  characterized  by  sound  and  scriptural  views  of  the  ordinance  of  the 
Supper,  which  are  adapted  to  strengthen  the  Christian's  faith,  to  increase  his  value  of 
this  divine  institution,  and  to  secure  to  him  the  legitimate  benefits  of  an  attendance 
upon  it." — Argus. 

COMMUNICANT'S   COMPANION. 

By  the  Rev.  Matthew  Henry.     With  an  Introductory  Essay,  by  the  Rev. 
John  Brown  of  Edinburgh. 

"  This  volume  comes  to  us  as  an  old  familiar  acquaintance  and  friend,  from  which 
we  derived  essential  benefit  in  the  early  part  of  our  Christian  career.  It  is  lucid,  in- 
structive, and  devotional ;  and  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  its  contents,  devoutly 
improved,  will  render  the  Christian's  approach  to  the  sacrament  happy  to  himself  and 
greatly  subsidiary  to  his  growth  in  grace." — Christian  Mirror. 

BAXTER'S   CALL, 

Now  or  Never,  and  Fifty  Reasons.     With  an  Introductory  Essay,  by  Dr. 
Chalmers. 

RELIGION    AND    ETERNAL    LIFE; 

Or,  Irreligion  and  Eternal  Death.    By  J.  G.  Pike,  author  of  ''  Persuasives 
to  Early  Piety,"  &c. 

THE    FARMER'S    DAUGHTER, 

A  Tale.  By  Mrs.  Cameron. 
"  This  is  a  well-told  tale,  replete  with  incident,  and  full  of  instruction  and  good 
counsel  to  young  ladies.  The  heroine  relates  her  own  history,  and  that  of  her  pa- 
rents, in  simple  and  affecting  language.  Her  mother  was  the  daughter  of  a  pious 
Welsh  curate,  married  a  Lincolnshire  farmer,  who  took  her  from  among  the  lovely 
hills  and  vales  of  Cambria,  to  the  low  levels  of  the  fen  country  on  the  eastern  coast 
of  England,  where  she  sickened  and  died,  leaving  an  only  daughter,  who  was  brought 
up  by  her  grandmother,  a  widow  of  considerable  estate,  but  little  refinement,  and  less 
religion.  The  mother,  however,  was  a  religious  woman,  and  carried  a  good  infiueuce 
into  the  farmer's  family  ;  and  the  tale  ends  well,  as  all  tales  should  do,  without  a 
word  about  elopement,  murder,  or  suicide." — Christian  Advocate  and  Journal. 

LIFE    OF    REV.    JOHN    NENA/'TON, 

Written  by  himself  to  A.D.  1763 ;   and  continued  to  his  Death  in  1807, 
by  the  Rev.  Richard  Cecil. 

"  It  is  very  instructing,  and  of  absorbing  interest,  and  illustrates  the  grace  of  God 
in  a  most  remarkable  manner,  showing  the  power  of  that  grace  to  change  the  hardest 
heart,  to  restore  the  lost  prodigal.  A  stubborn,  rebellious  youth,  a  roving  sailor,  an 
outcast  on  the  barbarous  coasts  of  Africa,  assimilated  to  the  natives  by  his  vices  and 
d^radation,  a  slaver,  and  commander  of  a  slave  ship,  becomes  the  meek  and  humble 
follower  of  Christ,  and  an  exemplary  and  successful  minister  of  the  Gospel." — Port- 
land Mirror. 

THE    HARP   ON    THE   NA^ILLOWS, 

Remembering  Zion,   Farewell  to  Egypt,  The  Church  in  the  House,  The 
Dew  of  Hermon,  and  the  Destination  of  the  Jews.     By  the  Rev.  Jas. 
Hamilton,  of  London.     From  the  forty-fifth  London  .Edition. 
"  The  first  three  Essays  have  especial  reference  to  the  recent  movements  of  the 
Church  of  Scotland ;  and  they  not  only  exhibit  a  faithful  historical  outline  of  the 
separation,  but  connect  with  it  many  appropriate  reflections,  characterized  by  exqui- 
site beauty,  fervent  piety,  and  melting  pathos.    The  subjects  treated  in  the  remain- 
ing parts  of  the  work  are  of  a  difi"erent  character;  but  there  is  not  a  paragraph  in 
the  book  which  does  not  indicate  the  union  of  genius  and  piety."— ^r^'tw. 
10 


R.   CARTER'S  PUBLICATIONJ 


WORKS  BY  THE  HEY.  JOHxN  A.  CLAEK,  D.D. 

Late  Rector  of  St.  Andrew's  Church,  Philadelphia. 

His  works  are  all  characterized  by  good  thoughts  expressed  in  a  graceful  and  ap- 
propriate manner,  by  great  seriousness  and  unction,  and  an  earnest  desire  to  promote 
the  spiritual  interests  of  his  fellow-men." — Daily  Advertiser. 

A    WALK    ABOUT    ZION. 

ReviseJ  and  Enlarged.     Fifth  Edition.      12mo.      Two  steel  Engravings. 

XHE    PASTOR'S    TESTIMONY. 

Revised  and  Corrected.     Fifth  Edition.     12mo.     Two  steel  Engravings. 

THE    YOUNG    DISCIPLE; 

Or,  a  Memoir  of  Anzoaetta  R,  Peters.     Fourth  Edition.     12rao. 

GATHERED    FRAGMENTS. 

Fourth  Edition.      12mo.     Two  steel  Engiravings. 

CoNTAiNTXG.— The  M'Ellen  Family.— The  Paralytic— The  Withered  Branch  Re- 
Tived.— The  Baptism.— Little  Ann. — The  Meeting  of  the  Travellers.— Mary  May- 
wood. — A  Family  in  Eternity. — One  whose  Record  is  on  High,  &c.  &c. 

GLEANINGS    BY  THE  NA^AY. 

Or,  Travels  in  the  Countiy.      1  vol.  12mo. 
AWAKE,   THOU    SLEEPER! 

A  Series  of  Awakening  Discourses.  12mo. 
"Few  American  clergymen  have  contributed  more  by  their  efiForts  from  the  pulpit 
and  through  the  press,  to  promote  the  cause  of  evangelical  truth  and  piety,  than  the  la- 
mented author  of  this  volume.  Happily,  though  dead,  he  yet  speaks  in  a  tone  of  im- 
pressive and  earnest  admonition  ;  and  the  present  volume  particularly,  is  a  witness 
to  the  fidelity  and  zeal  with  which  he  discharged  his  ministerial  duties.  The  subjects 
of  which  it  treats  are  of  the  deepest  moment;  and  the  manner  in  which  he  treats 
them  is  worthy  of  the  tenderness  and  fidelity  of  an  ambassador  of  Christ.  The  work 
is  admirably  adapted  to  promote  a  revi\  ul  of  religion." 

COMPLETE  NA^ORKS   OF   BISHOP  BUTLER. 

Containing  Analogy  of  Natural  and  Revealed  Religion,  Dissertations,  Ser- 
mons, Correspondence  with  Dr.  Clarke,  &c.  &c.  To  which  is  prefixed 
an  Account  of  the  Character  and  Writings  of  the  Author.  By  Dr.  Ha- 
lifax, Bishop  of  Gloucester.  1  vol.  8vo.  Splendid  Edition,  on  pica 
type  and  fine  paper. 

BUTLER'S    ANALOGY.     Large  type.     8vo. 

BUTLER'S    SERMONS.      8vo. 

BAXTER'S    SAINTS'    REST.     Large  type. 

DICK   ON    ACTS. 

Lectures  on   the   Acts  of  the   Apostles.     By  the  late  John  Dick,  D.D., 

Professor  of  Theology  of  the  United  Secession  Church,  Glasgow,  author 

of  "  Lectures  on  Theology,"  <fec.  From  second  Glasgow  Edition.    8vo. 

*'  The  style  of  the  author  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  a  work  of  this  description.    It 

is  uncommonly  perspicuous,  terse,  nervous  and  calm.    His  ideas  are  the  production 

of  a  highly-cultivated  mind,  originally  endowed  with  strong  common  sense.     lu 

many  respects  he  has  the  characteristics  of  Andrew  Fuller,  with  more  of  the  polish  of 

the  school." — Baptist  Advocate. 

MEMOIR    OF    MRS.     ISABELLA  GRAHAM. 

11 


R.  CARTER'S  PUBLICATIONS. 


JAY'S    MORNING    EXERCISES 

For  the  Closet,  for  Eveiy  Day  in  the  Year.     New  Edition.     12mo. 

JAY'S    EVENING    EXERCISES 

For  the  Closet,  for  Every  Day  in  the  Year.  New  Edition.  12mo.  Uni- 
form with  the  Morning  Exercises. 

DAVID'S    PSALMS.     48mo.  gilt. 

Do.  do.  With  Brown's  Notes.     18mo. 

THE     INQUIRER    DIRECTED 

To  an  Experimental  and  Practical  View  of  the  Work  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
By  Rev.  Octavius  Winslow.     1  vol.  12mo. 

CHRIST  OUR    LA\A^. 

By  Miss  Caroline  Fry.  Author  of  "  The  Listener,"  "  Christ  our  Exam- 
ple," &c.     1  vol.  12mo.     Second  Edition. 

LIFE,    NA^ALK  AND  TRIUMPH    OF    FAITH. 

By  the  Rev.  W.  Romaine,  A.M.     12mo.     New  Edition.     Muslin 

KEY  TO  THE  SHORTER  CATECHISM, 

Containing  Catechetical  Exercises,  a  Paraphrase,  and  a  new  Series  of 
Proofs  on  each  Question.     New  Edition.      18mo. 

SORROWING    YET  REJOICING.     32mo.  gilt  edge. 
CONTEST  AND    ARMOUR. 

By  Dr.  Abercrombie.     32mo.  extra  cloth,  gilt  edge. 

GIFT    FOR    MOURNERS. 

By  Flavel  and  Cecil.     32mo.    extra  cloth,    gilt  edge. 

CECIL'S     REMAINS. 

Remains  of  the  Rev.  Richard  Cecil,  M.A.  To  which  is  prefixed  a  View 
of  his  Character.  By  Joseph  Pratt,  B.D.,  F.A.S.  From  the  eleventh 
London  Edition.      1  vol.  12mo. 

ALLEINE'S    LIFE    AND    LETTERS.     12mo. 

HERVEY'S    MEDITATIONS.     2  vols.  1  Brno. 

MEMOIR    OF    DR.    NISBET. 

By  Dr.  Miller,  of  Princeton.     12mo. 

HILL  AND   VALLEY.      By  Miss  Sinclair.     12mo. 

LIGHTS  86  SHADONA^S  OF  SCOTTISH   LIFE. 

By  Professor  Wilson.     ISmo. 

MEMOIR    OF    MARY    LUNDIE    DUNCAN. 

Second  American  Edition.     IBmo. 

PRACTICAL    REFLECTIONS. 

On  the  Second  Advent.     By  the  Rev.  Hugh  White,  A.M.     18mo. 
12 


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